Make Crystal Pinecone Ornaments

Crystal pinecones are real pinecones that you can coat with crystals to make ornaments that appear frosted with ice and snow. These decorations are easy to make and can be preserved to use year after year. Its the perfect crystal project to make homemade ornaments with kids or to practice growing crystals. Crystal Pinecone Materials The most important material is the pinecone. Choose any genuine pinecone. It doesnt even need to be in great shape, since you can crystallize over any imperfects. The other ingredient is a salt that forms pretty crystals. I used borax, but you could use alum (big chunky crystals), table salt (small sparkly crystals), Epsom salts (fine needle-like crystals), or sugar (chunky rock candy crystals). Sugar or salt are nice if youre worried about kids or pets tasting your creations. If you use borax, it is also great for making crystal snowflakes, which you can make at the same time, if you like. pineconewaterborax (or one of the other ingredients)jar big enough so you can completely cover the pinecone with liquid If you want to hang the pinecone, like for a Christmas tree ornament, youll also want a hook or wire. Crystallize the Pinecone If you are going to hang the pinecone, its easier to add the hook before the crystallization process. Attach an ornament hook or run wire around the pinecone first.Figure out how much water you need. Rather than mix the crystal solution right in the jar, I prefer to fill the jar with water, then heat it to boiling and pour it into a mixing bowl. This way, its easy to filter the solution and remove any undissolved material.Stir in your crystal ingredient (borax, for my pinecone). Keep adding more powder until it stops dissolving. This is your crystal growing solution. If you wanted a colored crystal coating, you could add food coloring to this mixture. For borax, youll use about 2 parts water to 1 part borax (e.g., 2 cups water and 1 cup borax).Put the pinecone in the jar. Pour the solution over the pinecone. If you have a lot of undissolved material, you can filter the solution by pouring it through a coffee filter or paper towel into the jar. Otherwise, just add it to the container, trying to avoid adding in solids. They wont ruin the project, but do affect the size of the crystals youll get. If there is undissolved solid, youll get fine crystals, like snow. Fully dissolved liquid and slow cooling gives you large, icy crystals.The pinecone will probably try to float. I put a rock on mine to hold it down, minimizing the contact between the rock and the pinecone since crystals cant grow where the pinecone is covered. It does not really matter what you use because the pinecone wont float for very long. Once it soaks up the liquid and starts growing crystals, it will sink. You can remove any weight you used to ensure coverage of the pinecone.Check on your pinecone after about an hour. If you used a weight, you should be able to remove it. You can also un-stick the pinecone from the bottom of the jar, to make removing it easier later on.Allow at least a couple of hour to overnight for crystals to grow, depending on how coated you want the pinecone. I removed my pin econe after about 2 hours. Set the crystal pinecone on a paper towel to dry.You can hang the pinecone indoors or outside. However, you might want to seal it against damage from moisture, especially for outdoor use. Make sure the crystallized pinecone is completely dry before sealing it. Id allow 3 days (though you can use the pinecone indoors while youre waiting). To seal the crystals, you can spray the pinecone with sealant, dip the cone, or paint on lacquer or varnish. Good choices include Future floor polish, Varathane, or Modge Podge. Any of several products will work just fine.

Electronic Human Resource Management Free Essays

Electronic Human Resource Management can be defined as â€Å"The processing and transmission of digitalized HR information, especially using computer networking and the Internet† (pg. 52) basically, because technology has such a hold over most of the world, e-HRM is considered beneficial. It is faster, sometimes easier, and can be more proficient than the ‘over worked and under paid’ employee. We will write a custom essay sample on Electronic Human Resource Management or any similar topic only for you Order Now Just because almost everything is now electronic doesn’t mean that there isn’t a need for humans any more. Someone has to sit behind that desk and enter in all of the electronic information, look through the records and make sure all of the social security numbers are correct, and be there for technical support when the system is down or someone is having a user error. Many businesses’ today rely solely on e-HRM like the Armed Forces. Here at Mountain Home Air Force Base we have such system called The Portal. Inside this Portal, everything about anything you have ever done or would want to know can be found in here. Many HRM practices are done through this portal for all military and DoD civilians. My work as a Personal Property counselor survives and is only possible with the use of e-mail. Because we work with everyone, including the deployed members currently serving overseas, what we do is damn near impossible without the use of our email. We cannot inform members of required documentation needed, deadlines that must be met, and forwarding up information to our headquarters, which is located in Colorado Springs, CO. My office at MHAFB uses the HRM practice of analysis and design of work faithfully on a daily, even weekend basis. Recruiting: With our Portal, we have an Intranet based link called AMS, Assignment Management System. Through here, you can look at every single job opening on every Air Force Base in every country. When I log onto this AMS site, I can look at every job opening and the requirements for that job based on my job title. I can also choose to apply for this job through this system. Another practice of HRM is Training. In the Portal, everyone has an account in ADLS, Advanced Distant Learning System. In ADLS you may take any number of classes, free of charge to further your knowledge of the Air Force and the programs it has to offer. Selection includes testing. Also found in ADLS are countless CBT’s, Computer Based Training. Everyone must complete specified CBT’s from Homosexual training to Chemical Warfare in a deployed location. At the end of every CBT, a certificate will be printed out with proof of completion and how well you did, giving your UDM (Unit Deployment Manager) an idea of who she’s working with. The last practice of HRM is compensation and benefits. The portal has a link you can click in that will lead you to your myPay account. Through your myPay account you can see where every last penny came from, your current and past LES (Leave Earning Statement), even your retirement plan that you have set up with the Air Force. The Air Force is just one example of how the majority of businesses are now electronic. Sooner or later we will live in a ‘Paperless work force† and everyone will be using e-HRM in one way or another. RESOURCES Fundamentals of Human Resource  Management. Trends in Human Resource Management. (pp. 52) NewYork. Mcgraw-Hill Irwin. Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, Wright. (2007) How to cite Electronic Human Resource Management, Papers

In the first chapter of his book The Age of Spirit Essay Example For Students

In the first chapter of his book The Age of Spirit Essay ual Machines, author Ray Kurzweil gives a very brief history of the Universe, which serves as a preface for his subsequent theories. In this history, Kurzweil chronicles the rapid expansion of time between salient events in the history of the Universe, describing time, in his own words, as geometrically slowing (pg. 10). He then jumps headfirst into the history of evolution, and shortly thereafter of technology, in both of which the time between salient events is shrinking exponentially. This leads him to question the opposing nature of the trend (how can time be accelerating as applied to technology and evolution yet decelerating as applied to the very Universe which contains these?) as well as search for similarities between the trends. Thus is created Kurzweils first theoretical law, that of time and chaos. Kurzweils Law of Time and Chaos is as follows; In a process, the time interval between salient events (that is, events that change the nature of the process, or significantly alter the future of the process) expands or contracts along with the amount of chaos. (pg.29) In other words, as things become more chaotic as applied to a specific process it takes longer for significant events to occur within that process, and vice-versa. According to this law, the rate at which we advance technologically has, and will continue to, accelerate exponentially. What if this exponential growth hits a wall so to speak, as trends of the exponential variety frequently do? Kurzweil is quick to answer this question, which he knows will be raised quickly by most readers. According to the Law of Accelerating Returns, which states simply that as a process speeds up so do the returns from that process speed up as well, technology will continue to build upon and advance itself. As technology advances, we are able to create more technologically advanced machines, which in turn will enable us to create even more advanced machines, and so on. According to Kurzweil, the only two resources this technological evolution needs to survive are the growing order of the evolving technologyand the chaos from which an evolutionary process draws its options for further diversity (pg 35), both of which, Kurzweil claims, are unbounded. With the an understanding of the Laws of Accelerating Returns and of Time and Chaos firmly under our belts, Kurzweil advances to the next chapter in order to answer a question subtly raised by his faith in the continuing exponential advancement of technologycan an intelligence (such as ours) create an intelligence (such as the artificial intelligence of our computers) more intelligent than itself?His answer is yes, and he comes to this conclusion by looking at the process of human evolution as an intelligence in itself. If this is the case, and we are to measure intelligence in terms of speed and frequency of error (as we do for an IQ test), then evolution, according to Kurzweil, would rate only infinitesimally greater than zero on that same IQ test. Therefore, humansa creation resulting from the intelligence of evolutionare more intelligent than the intelligence that spawned them. Kurzweil cites the example of scientists ongoing work with DNA, which is on the brink of allowing us to refine and control evolution as the original process never could, as evidence that we have indeed become more intelligent than the process that gave us birth. It is not a difficult comparison which leads Kurzweil to postulate that some day computers, the intelligence that man created, will some day become more intelligent than man himself. It is also not difficult to foresee the day when computers more intelligent than man will begin to create intelligence more intelligent than theythus Kurzweil brings to a close his second chapter, setting nicely the stage for the rest of the book.

ENV 101 Exam 5 Flashcard

ENV 101 Exam 5

Understanding Cities and Regions

Understanding Cities and Regions Understanding cities and regions is a significantly complicate and confusing task. This process enables individuals and government agencies to effectively plan for resource distribution and management of regions.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Understanding Cities and Regions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A city refers to an entity that occupies space or an element in a network of urban centres. On the other hand, a region entails an intermediary entity that occupies a position in the continuum of a country and a city (Frey 2007, p. 112). In this regard, the distinction of the two entities involves the analysis of spatial and temporal comparisons, structural change, design and the implementation of policies. Sometimes, disagreements arise regarding when the categorising of a city as a region and vice versa. Similarly, cities and regions share multiple traits. These include their representation of an open system w ith respect to trade, factor mobility, and government transfers (Short 1996, p. 424). Nevertheless, a detail analysis of the two economic entities will depict the fundamental difference that supersedes the mere analysis concerning the dimensions of the area or population. From the inception of the concept of urbanisation, several elements of an urban area have been considered in evaluating the components of a city. Classically, cities were considered urban areas that exhibited economical, social, and political influences on people. In this regard, various theories attempt to explain the origin and development of urban areas.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The theories that have clearly elicited how urban areas originated in the past include hydraulic, economic, military, and religious theories (Parr 2008, p. 3012). All these theories identify the need of populationsâ €™ confederation. The theories have similar primary characteristics concerning size, specialisation of labour, class-structured society and state organisation. Notably, the population, environment, technology, and social organisation influenced the emergence of urban areas. Overtime, the rating of the urban areas with the focus on industrial production underwent considerable transformations. At the same time, industrial capitalism input a crucial element in the industrial cities’ definition. During this transition period, the urban areas were segregated to accommodate the needs of all individuals as per their classes. Quartering such as luxury areas, gentrified city, suburban, tenement, and abandon cities existed. All these quarters catered for the needs of the mighty and the poor in the society. After the industrial period, the urban areas transformed to the postmodern cities. In this regard, the adoption of restructuring in the economic, social, and political segments w as necessary. The restructuring of the economic base in the urban areas involved a fundamental change in the organisation and technology of the industrial production.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Understanding Cities and Regions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Consequently, it led to the formation of a global system of world cities through the spatial division of labour and specialisation (Clapp 1971, p. 128). Similarly, a change in social structure was witness because of the social fragmentation created by the wide gap between the rich and the poor. Nevertheless, there was an increase in the radical restructuring of the urban forms like megacity, metroplex, technoburb, technopolis, and exopolis to accommodate the change in the urban imagery. Historically, the imagery of the cities influenced the urban areas’ rating. In this regard, myths and ideologies were developed to describe the exact nature of urban areas (Hufschmidt 1969, p.88). The common anti-urban myths included unnatural, anonymous, sin, or treat cities. The pro-urban views included the civilized, soft, free, or radical cities. Progressively, urban ideologies emerged which help to characterise the nature of a city as a wannabee world, clean and green or ‘look! No more factories’ city. At that time, cities were categorised with regard to the cost of living, employment and crime rates, arts and climate. Evidently, multiple means of evaluating cities have been formulated. Additionally, presently, competition is no longer regional or national, but globally. Therefore, In this regard, it is crucial for any city to identify its market niche and create a favourable image. Apparently, the region definition has been the main area of interest in distinguishing between regions and cities. Analytically, regions cut across the various approaches of interest like economics, geography, planning, politics, and sociology. Thu s, regions focus on the economic, social, political, cultural, and ecological changes (Pike 2007, p. 1145). Evidently, regions exhibit contemporary controversies about space, place, and scale.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As a result, researchers have embarked on studies to establish the standards of analysis and evidence of regions. Notably, most researchers agree that regions should be categorised depending on the data specification, collection, and analysis in more open, unbound, and discontinuous spatial units other than the space, place, and scale. The role of governance, policy, and politics in the regional level is essential in the definition of a region. The emergent forms of governance regarding participatory and democratic leadership with new geographies of devolution and multi-layering clearly depicts the definition of a region. Similarly, the use of regions to shape, develop, and deliver policies determine their definition (Stiftel 2005, p. 220). Additionally, power relations are critical in evaluating regions’ interests and development. This implies that the initiative of contesting demands the collective provision and interpretation of governance of regional firm networks. Theref ore, it is crucial to realise that regions have more importance to contesters as they promote the emergence of spatial imaginaries at the city-region and local levels. Consequently, the main requirement of regional studies is to reflect on the need to articulate the normative content and intent of people’s work towards sustainable development at the local and regional levels. In defining regions, it is critical to adopt the Meyer’s classification of economies approach. This approach defines regions with respect to spatial differentiation. In this regard, there are the homogeneous, nodal, and programming regions (Salet 2003, p. 125). The homogeneous approach reflects on the regions that exhibit differentiating factors, but similar uniform terms of a certain criteria. This approach’s use has been significant with the analysis of economic activities. The nodal regions adopt the fact that there are nodes or market areas within the surrounding of the suburban areas t hat supply the nodes. Additionally, the government’s implementations of policies that create differentiating factors influence the programming regions. All these forms the influencing factors of a region explain the exact nature of a region. The process of contrasting regions and cities demands the analysis of regions space, scale, and social factors. Initially, the first contrast entails the definition of cities or regions with regard to the spatial-sectored factors, interaction between zones, external interaction or scale and change. The spatial-sectored structures refer the combination of the urban area (C zone) and the hinterland or surrounding regions (S zone). The interaction between zones entails how the C zone and S zone symbiotically relate with respect to their economic interdependence (Pacione 2005, p. 44). The external interactions depict how two different zones interact without losing their sight to the external economic relations. Similarly, scale and change por tray the extensiveness of an area and the frequency of changes in such regions. In this regard, adequate attention on the spatial structure and the change emerging due to evolution is vital. Another contrasting element of the types of regions is the polycentric urban region (PUR). This component entails the spatial structure, patterns of interaction and economic prospects of PUR. The spatial structure entails the grouping of urban areas that meet certain conditions such as the clustered distribution of urban areas, maximum and minimum spacing, lack of direct relationship between centres and any dominance, and the average level of interaction between centres. The patterns of interaction entail the labour-market interaction between centres. The economic prospects refer to the formation of a metropolitan area without its accompanying disadvantages. This fosters the efficient delivery of services and the adoption of appropriate system of governance. There are other ways of identifying P UR. These include the alternative interpretation of regions and polycentric megacity region (Stilwell 1992, p. 128). This enables the identification and distinction of cities and regions. References Clapp, J. A. (1971). New towns and urban policy; planning metropolitan growth. Dunellen: New York. Frey, H., Yaneske, P. (2007). Visions of sustainability: cities and regions. Taylor Francis: London. Hufschmidt, M. M. (1969). Regional planning; challenge and prospects. Praeger: New York. Pacione, M. (2005). 3. Urban geography : global perspective (pp. 22-57). Routledge: New York, NY. Parr, J. B. (2008). Cities and regions: problems and potentials. Environment and Planning, 40, 3009-3026. Pike, A. (2007). Editorial: Whither Regional Studies?. Centre for Urban and RegionalDevelopment Studies (CURDS), 41(9), 1143-1148. Salet, W. G. (2003). Metropolitan governance and spatial planning: comparative case studies of European city-regions. Spon Press: London. Short, J. R. (1996). 18. The urban order : an introduction to cities, culture, and power (pp. 414-438). Blackwell Publishers: Cambridge, Mass., USA. Stiftel, B., Watson, V. (2005). Dialogues in urban and regional planning. Routledge: London. Stilwell, F. J. (1992). Understanding cities regions: spatial political economy. Pluto Press Australia: Leichhardt, NSW.

Digital Video Production Reflective Commentary on Trailer Produced Essay

Digital Video Production Reflective Commentary on Trailer Produced - Essay Example This scene signifies the beginning of a relationship representing all things positive and tender and affectionate, which is disrupted by this explosion, which represents the disturbances that life represents - some of which the relationship may survive, but more importantly, sets the tone for the wife to be prepared for her new husband to leave her in an instant to deal with these disturbances. The film line revolves around Vargas, the 'hero' and his weakness in balancing his personal and professional responsibilities. On a broader level, this opening scene is a microcosm for the theme of the rest of the film: the ever raging and seemingly endless battle between good and evil, within the characters themselves as well as between them. (Tom Dirk, Film site review) The title Orson Welles appears in the 9th second who introduces t... d us and he appears almost larger than life until he reaches his full height and balance within the camera which indicates that he is only human, after-all. This scene represents the progression of his character through the movie: he begins as a seemingly powerful man that will stop at nothing to achieve his goal (of catching the 'bad guys') and cannot be stopped by any force known to man. As his character progresses through the film, we see a leveling out that suggests that even all-powerful men ultimately have to live within the boundaries of life - and if you choose not to, justice will eventually prevail to maintain the balance between good and evil. The next title is consistent with the first (black with the credit appearing in a white outline for an elegant and classic feel) and appears in the 11th second: 'Touch of Evil' that heralds in the next scene is actually the crux of the film as it begins to unfold. The sound overlaid on the credit, for but a second, is meant to represent mystery. In seconds 12 to 16, Quinlan sports a self-satisfied and smug look and the sound begins: "Vargas himself has a theory that the murder was committed outside our jurisdiction" and the camera cuts to Vargas who looks confident and also somewhat suspicious of this 'theory'. The scene then cuts to the increasing tension and friction between Vargas and Quinlan: the tone is being set for a battle between these two and the battle between good and evil that ensues. The body language of the group of men who proposed Vargas' 'theory' seems to be in support of Quinlan and blinded by the reality of his methods of investigation. Vargas is in alien territor y and the representative of justice will have to fight his battle single-handedly, as justice always needs to win against all odds. In

Consumer behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Consumer behavior - Essay Example Amongst the internal factors which influence people in making their choice by interpreting market information are: perception, motivation, learning, attitudes, personality, age and lifestyle. Since consumers are the focus of marketers, hence consumer behavioural theories form the basis of marketing. It is important to understand what might influence a consumer to buy a certain product and what might hinder him from the same. This involves an understanding of his feeling about a product or brand and the impact laid by his personal and professional surroundings. This understanding will help in formulating the appropriate marketing theory. The identification of target consumers before offering a particular product is important. For instance, an individual from lower income stratum would not be eager to buy an expensive luxury item. In fact such people from lower economic backdrop would be little interested in buying health supplements like Kellogg’s K and rather concentrate on pr oducts essential for daily survival like fruits, vegetables and pulses. Likewise, age group, geographical location, lifestyle and social status of consumers would also be taken into account by marketers. Consumers are also driven by needs which are not satisfied. This acts as their motivation. Motives comprise energy from within oneself which directs an individual towards satisfying his need or to fulfil his objectives (Solomon, 2010). The paper will essentially highlight this aspect of consumer behaviour and show how it is related to marketing. Different models demonstrate various stages and reflect the factor of motivation along with the other aspects which act towards helping a consumer make his purchase decision. Relation between Consumer behaviour theory and Marketing – emphasis on Motivation The first stage of purchasing decision is problem recognition. At this stage a consumer identifies the difference between the current and the desired condition. When there is a gap, the need is identified and in order to meet this unmet need a motivation is generated. At this stage the marketers might help the consumer recognize the problem. The second stage is information search where the consumer begins to search their surroundings for possible clues and the available options. The means of search include personal experience and know-how, associates and friends, websites, advertisements and print media. After researching, the consumers would assess the available alternatives or options on the basis of pros and cons. To make product choice normally external factors like group culture might influence but the criteria might be summarized as heuristics or rules of thumb (brand loyalty, country of origin and personal liking are some examples). Purchase may differ from the decision taken owing to the time lapse and finally after purchase the evaluation of his satisfaction (buyer’s remorse) is important too (Blythe, 2008). This is the last stage of the buying process and this might be dealt with by warranties or after sales interaction with the consumers in order to influence future product or brand loyalty. So it is the motivation which initiates the purchasing process and the last stage in turn motivates future purchase decisions. Let us begin with a general model of consumer behaviour: (Blythe, 2008, p.7) Now, one may study consumer behaviour with respect to the seven Ps of marketing. This relation might be explained as follows: Product: the product