Financial Statement Essay Example for Free

Financial Statement Essay The first issue to discuss is the four different types of financial statements and the use of each that a business will use. The second issue to discuss is what financial statements that an investor will review. The third issue to discuss is what financial statements a creditor will review. The fourth will be what financial statements that management within a company will review. The first financial statement is the income statement (Kimmel et al, 2009). The income states will show the success or the failure of a company’s operations for a certain period. The income statement will have the revenue the company will make, the expenses the company will spend, and the net income of the difference of each. The second financial statement is the retained earnings statement (Kimmel et al, 2009). Retained earnings mean the net income that is retained in the corporation. The statement will show the amount and the cause of changes that can occur in the retained earnings during a certain period. The period of both the retained earnings and the income statement have the same period. The information covered on the retained earnings would be the earnings from the month prior, add the net income, minus the dividends, and the outcome for the retained earnings for a certain month. The next financial statement would be the balance sheet (Kimmel et al, 2009). The use of the balance sheet is so a company can report the assets and the claims to the assets during a certain period. The claims to assets can be from two groups, the first would be the claims to creditors that would be the liabilities and the second would be the claims to owners that would be the stockholders equity. The basic accounting equation is Assets = Liabilities + Stockholders’ Equity. Both sides of this equation must balance out. The last financial statement will be the statement of cash flows (Kimmel et al, 2009). The statement of cash flows will provide financial information about the cash receipts and payments of business for a certain period. The statement of cash flows will report the cash effects of the company’s expenses. Those expenses can be through the operating, investing, and financing activities. The statement of cash flows will also show the net increase or decrease in cash during a certain period. The statement will also show the amount of cash at the end of another period. The information found on the statement of cash flows will be the operating expenses, the investing expenses, the financing expenses, the net increase, the cash at the beginning and end of a period. Investors will view the income statement to see the future performance of a company (Kimmel et at, 2009). Creditors will view the income statement for loans. Creditors will also view the retained earnings statement and the balance sheet to see the ability for a company to repay debt. Management will view each financial statement to see the financial health of the company (Kimmel et al, 2009). Management can view the income statement to see if the company is a success or failure. The retained earnings statement to see how much income will return to the company. The balance sheet to see how much cash is on hand for certain needs and to ensure there is a satisfactory proportion of debt to common stock. The statement of cash flows to see the entire picture of what is going on within the company financially. In conclusion, the highlight of the four different types of financial statements and the use of each that a business will use. The highlight of the financial statements an investor will review for the company. The highlight of the financial statements a creditor will review for the company. The highlight of which financial statements the management of the company will review for the organization.

Impact of Sound on the Film Industry

Impact of Sound on the Film Industry The Advancement of Film: Through Sound During the late 1880s the motion camera was invented, a few years later the film industry was created. The first films were usually about everyday life, people walking or playing a prank; these films were usually very short. This was the era of the silent film. Gradually film started to expand rapidly, new technology enabled films to become more complicated, with a storyline and the camera angles. â€Å"The Great Train Robbery†, was one of the first films to incorporate the different camera shots while having a story line. The only thing that these movies were missing was the use of dialogue, sound effects, and music. Sound is truly one of the things that set the film industry on a path to successes. Film makers are continuously use sound to aid them in convening the emotions they want their audience to feel when they watch their movies. Though much of the advancements of the film industry, sound has become the most important aspect of movies; it has come a long way since the â€Å"silent era† in film history, movies would not be the same without it. The start of the film industry was a huge land mark in itself, but without incorporation of sound, they would not have become the multimillion dollar industry that it is today. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century Americans were flooding into theaters to watch the latest movie that was out, but in those days the movies were generally very short and had no audio. To compensate for the lack of sound theaters would often have a pianist playing music on a piano or on the organ; he would provide the necessary sound affects movies needed. The Lumià ¨re Brothers were very popular in creating these early silent films. Thomas Edison had been trying to come up with a way to incorporate sound in to film with the use of a phonograph but was un- successful. But his ideas would lead to the huge milestone for the advancement of sound in film during the nineteen twenties. In early portion of the twentys the Vitaphone was invented. â€Å"The Vitaphone was a sound-on-disc system using multiple 33 1/3 rpm discs developed by Bell Telephone Laboratories and Western Electric In August 1926, Warner Brothers debuted the first Vitaphone film Don Juan† (Kay). Thought this movie did use the Vitaphone, to replace the organist, the film still did not use dialogue. The first film to incorporate the use of music and dialogue was The Jazz Singer, this was considered the end of the â€Å"silent era and beginning of the â€Å"talkies†. In 1928 Walt Disney would release the move Steamboat Willie â€Å"It was the first film to completely create a soundtrack in post production including sound effects, music, and dialogue† (Kay). Many critics at the time believed that the incorporation of sound with the actual movies would lead to the down fall of the art, and would ruin the entertainment value. Boy was they wrong the advancement of sound lead to a more hooked audience who couldnt seem to get enough of the theater. These early advancements in sound would aid in the perfection of sound. With the creation and incorporation of sound in movies, film makers wanted to finally be able to perfect the art and be able to use it to convey the cinematographer message more efficiently. One of the most significant achievements in film history was made by Murray Spivak, who was the sound director for King Kong â€Å"[He] was the first person to manipulate sound in a creative way. Spivak used the sound of a lions roar slowed down one octave mixed with the sound at unity pitch† (Kay). Spivak used sound in a way that it had never been used before; he also paved the path for future sound directors. Walt Disney became renowned in nineteen forties he created some of the most important innovations in sound, some of which are still being used today. Some of these creations included the pan-pot, overdubbing of orchestral parts, the multichannel surround system, and simultaneous multi-track recording; just to name a few. The film Fantasia by Disney was the first to use â€Å"[The] state-of-the-art digital sound dubbing and screening facility. Sound mixers blend dialogue, music, and sound effects tracks to the various levels appropriate for a movie theater† (Walt Disney Internet Group). This technology allowed them to make a audience sit on the edge of their seats because the sound could excite a theater thats was three quarters of the way full. This was a huge advancement in technology and Walt Disney definitely set the benchmark high. Before Disney movies did not have the seamless interaction between dialogue, music, and sound effects; they were very choppy and were one of the biggest complaints from movie goers. Another important creation in the advancement of sound was created by Ray Dolby who in 1965 invented the â€Å"Dolby A-type ® noise reduction. It was a sophisticated new form of audio compression and expansion that dramatically reduced the background hiss inherent in professional tape recording without discernible side effects on the materi al being recorded† (Dolby Laboratories Inc ). Its original purpose was for use in recording studios to produce clearer tracks; but the film industries used it as an aid to allow them to make clearer sounding movies. In 1976 â€Å"A Star Is Born became the first Dolby Stereo film. Dolby Stereo was a 4-channel format phase matrixed into a two channel format† (Kay). This was significant because, on the Dolby Stereo they could encoded it into any format including FM, tape, or recording. The present day of sound extends from about the nineteen eighties to today, we are still coming up with advancements in the way we use sound. The main goal for Sound directors today is to make dialogue, sound effects, and music blend together in a seamless fashion to the point that it seems realistic. This illusion is created from the new technology that we have today such as Dolby Digital which is the standard in the industry, it is also used to record sound on to DVDs. With the creation of louder higher definition speakers in theater and surround sound for home theaters; the stress for sound directors is becoming more and more important. They have their job cut out for them because; this new technology is making it easier to pick out flaws in sound. To make sure that sound quality is near perfect sound directors work on a single move for months and months editing in and out different sound clips, playing with the frequency and pitch of the sound until it is perfect. With the higher definition speakers big blockbusters often dont spare cost when it comes to sound. Image watching a movie like the Fast and the Furious or the Terminator without sound or bad quality sound, it would not be the same right. Sound improves the quality of the movie. That is why sound directors spend so much time on perfecting there art, so you can every horse in the engine when it is revving or bullets hitting off of a metal robot. It is these qualities that make movies so aesthetic to watch and listen to. The innovation of sound in movies has come a long way, and will continue to grow, it is one of the most important factors in a movie and can make or break a Hollywood blockbuster. Sound has come a long way from the â€Å"silent† era in film history. After the â€Å"silent† films came the â€Å"talkies† the firs movies to use sound. With ingenious innovations form such patrons as Walt Disney and Ray Dolby, we are able to experience the best sound in movies. It is the sound in movies that creates suspense that makes us sit on the edge of our seats with our heart rushing. Without the use of sound this would not be possible. The movies that scare us and leave us panting wanting more could not happen without the scary background music. People use to believe that sound actually would ruin the art of cinematography, it has done the opposite movies today are just getting better and better. Without sound in movies we would just be left looking at a screen. Works Cited Dolby Laboratories Inc. Dolby The Companys Founding. Dolby Laboratories. Web. 11 Mar. 2010. . Kay, Jonathan. Film Sound History: 20s. Middle Tennessee State University. Web. 12 Mar. 2010. . Walt Disney Internet Group. History. The Walt Disney Studios. Web. 13 Mar. 2010. .

How Off Site Construction Construction Essay

How Off Site Construction Construction Essay This dissertation will discuss the effect of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and particularly the Off-Site Construction (OSC), on the building sector today, and how these methods will contribute to help and resolve social, financial, and environmental difficulties that facing the UK. Off-site construction is an application of modern methods of construction MMC where building sector meets the industrial sector, or by other word, a fusion between building and manufacturing. Off-site construction is where any of building components, or even a whole building, manufactured in factories away from the actual site where the building will be sited, or simply is where the construction site is different from the building site. Off-site construction has different terms, terms like (prefabrication, off-site assembly, factory assembly, pre-assembly, off-site manufacture, etc.). The term off-site construction is generally used nowadays to any part of the construction process that takes place in factories. Off-site construction is not new, in the 20th century specifically in the post wartime, off-site construction (that time the term used probably was factory assembly or prefabrication construction) were needed to replace rapidly buildings which were destroyed or damaged during the war, But due to the lack of technology and modern production techniques, development in lightweights, high-strength materials, and new modern methods of construction that today is available, it gained unfortunately negative significance. The time of the wheelbarrow is finished, announced Jean Prouvà © in 1947, echoing Le Corbusier.We need usinà ©es maisons, homes produced in the factories Since then, a further sixty years have passed: the manufacturing industry has come with story of success of the mechanization, has enhanced electronics and grafting. Today industrial automation and manufactures from shoes to personal computers, and from planes to crackers, all now machine-made, in Seattle as a small village in China. The building construction is still the same. With very few exceptions, the building remains largely an object made by hand with traditional techniques. And the only construction industry still relies to logical and largely pre-industrial processes. With known effects: low productivity, forecast time and cost much more random, exposed to all levels of quality and possibilities and approximations of production conditions are vary widely, backward technologies and unskilled work. Why choose off-site construction now? What is so different from the traditional way of construction? Why is sustainability constantly being brought up? Before I examine these points, I have to mention some important facts that have already occurred. Since the beginning of the century, it is increasingly being talked about and discussed, the world and its climate changing. United Nations ask for action on it. The world met in a summit in Copenhagen to discuss how they can resolve the raising temperature that might cause damages and risks to the global, and how to reduce energy and CO2 emission. Why I mentioned climate change and we are talking about off-site construction? The answer is surprisingly, buildings are responsible for about one third of global energy consumption and if we add the energy used for construction the amount can easily be increased to the half. All of this means that we need to build very efficient houses and in an efficient way, and thats can be achievable only by off-site construction. There is a severe accommodation shortage in the UK. The Government has announced plans for the construction of 200,000 new houses per year, but that target has never achieved yet. Off-site construction can help the accommodation industry to achieve that target where fast delivery is needed. Speedier delivery in construction is one of the potential advantages of off-site construction and research showed that it can reduce the time of construction process to the half because it takes place in a desirable condition away from the unpredictable weather that can affect and delay the process on-site. And research showed that it can reduce the time of construction process to the half because it takes place in a desirable condition away from the unpredictable weather, factory built accommodation. Offsite construction already features in the production of social accommodation.elderly.jpg Skill shortages in the UK construction industry are a severe problem. In 2001 the UK construction industry estimated it needed to train an extra 74,000 skilled workers every year for five years just to make up for the shortages of bricklayers, plumbers and electricians (Verbus System, 2006). In 2009, the chartered institute of building (CIOB) concluded a third research on skill shortages, and the result again showed that the construction industry is still suffering a skills shortage, which is likely to continue to be a challenge for the building sector. Off-site construction can play an important role to resolve this issue. The research showed, compared to more traditional techniques, off-site construction can reduce on-site labour requirements to less than a quarter. This result achieved from some work took place off-site. Off-site work involves different labour that is not under pressure as the on-site workforce. Off-site construction and modern methods of construction (MMC) can therefore make better use of scarce labour. 1.5 DISSERTATION STRUCTURE The dissertation consists of an introduction chapter, three main chapters and conclusion chapter; Chapter two discuss the advantages of off-site construction for the building sector, society, and the environment. The chapter also will discuss the conditions in order to gain the full advantages of off-site construction. Chapter three explain the types and forms of off-site construction, and where off-site construction takes place in the building and in the construction process. Off-site construction takes place in different areas of the building, so how off-site construction will incorporate with the mainstream construction process. Chapter four show and examine some of off-site construction case studies and in which type of building it takes place. CHAPTER TWO: ADVANTAGES OF OFF-SITE CONSTRUCTION 2.1 INTRODUCTION Off-site construction, as I mentioned, is part of modern methods of construction (MMC) and is referred to as any of the components of the building built in a high quality controlled factories where they use advanced techniques to manufacture highly specialised doors, windows, stairs, wall panels, frame structure, and complete volumetric pods and then transport them to the location where it will be used and to be assembled on-site. Off-site construction has many advantages that are why nowadays there are more companies and contractors using this method rather than the traditional way of construction, even governments make more pressure to use this method to speed up housing delivery. Modern methods of construction can provide good quality homes with less on-site labour, in a shorter time, with at least the same building performance and at similar cost when compared to more established techniques. Off-site manufacturing and partnering processes increasingly play a part in solving todays problem of moving towards a sustainable housing industry. The advantages of off-site construction can be classified into two types; Business advantages, social environmental advantages Modern construction methods can produce important benefits for housing authorities and developers, not the least of which is the reduced emphasis on on-site activity. This is particularly important in a time of increasing demands on an already stretched labour force. As with any new way of doing things there are risks, but these can be mitigated through good project planning and management (Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, 2005). 2.2 ADVANTAGES Less time in construction process, cost predictability, higher quality,helping the society and the environment, resolving skilled labour shortage, reduce health safety risks,and helping the business the economy. These are key advantages of off-site construction. 2.2.1 Reduced construction time Business advantages give a huge encouragement to the contractors and designers to use more off-site construction components with their design and building processes. The greater speed of manufacturing and on-site assembling is an important factor for business gain. Earlier the delivery of the building means earlier the return of the investment. Modular construction for example, that is an off-site construction, is up to 40-60% quicker than traditional building methods. The predictability of the delivery also is very important for the financial calculation of the business in terms of cost and revenue. The manufacturing process of the components in quality controlled factories is nearly accurately estimated as well as the delivery to the site and the assembly operation. 2.2.2 Cost Predictability Cost-effectiveness is an important factor to show the difference between the off-site construction method and the conventional one. Approximately, around 80% of the construction costs are fixed within the first 20% of the design process. The graph below highlights the potential for cost reduction and alternatively the resistance to the cost of change during the project life. As the project progresses, the opportunities for implementing variation or change reduce and the consequent costs associated with these variations rise substantially, Where off-site production techniques are to be used, these should be introduced early in the process. While off-site construction has tended in the past to be more expensive than brick block, now is being reduced to the same level due to the innovation of more techniques and to the variety of the components, and these bringing even greater economies. 2.2.3 Superior Quality Off-site manufacture for building components significantly improves the quality and the efficiency of the building due to high standard of quality control and test. Buildings exceed requirements on sound and thermal insulation levels, so this means that are more sustainable. 2.2.4 Help the society and the environment Off-site construction has also can help the society and the environment. Millions of affordable homes are required to meet growing demand, and there is increasing pressure to further improve efficiency and sustainability performance during construction and throughout the lifetime of the buildings. Off-site construction is environmentally friendly if it is planned well from the early stages of design and by integrating all the supply chain together. Less energy is generally required to develop the modules or off-site manufactured components. With improved process control ,buildings are pre-engineered each exactly the same and so can be adapted for ease of tiling and this should lead to reduced levels of waste on site of up to 70% and subsequent costs. In addition, with improved control of materials flow, raw materials can be recycled rather than skipped as often happens on site. The advantage of using OSC methods related to the reduction of waste to landfill are that the material usage in the factory is reduced up to 90% by the  careful design and procurement of materials, reducing the  amount of waste generated  both on-site and off-site. Offsite manufacturing was identified as a key potential method for promoting sustainability within the construction industry. Sustainability is increased as sound and thermal insulation are improved. Reduced time on site means less disruption to neighbouring residents or businesses. 2.2.5Reducing reliance on skilled labour While there is a significant shortage of housing in the UK, and the government plans to build more accommodation houses, there is another problem facing to achieve these plans as well the building industry a whole which is the skills shortages bricklayers, plumbers and electricians. Off-site construction helps to build more houses by reducing reliance on increasingly scarce skilled labour by reducing the number of labour where semi-skilled factory labour can be used during the construction of modules. 2.2.6 Improve Health and safety Health and safety issue also give off-site construction an advantage, it has been proven to be a safer method of construction because there are fewer components involved than traditional methods and there is no need for high quantity of labour on-site for the assembly process. 2.2.7 Business integration and economy development Off-site construction helps to integrate the supply chain. When executed effectively, the off-site construction process involves key manufacturers and suppliers early in the feasibility and design stages of the project. This ensures that the specialist skills and knowledge of these key suppliers are embedded within the project and can influence the design and construction phases of the project. Where appropriate these key suppliers should be given ownership of the design and involved fully in the execution of delivery, storage and movements of materials and components. CHAPTER THREE: OFF-SITE CONSTRUCTION! WHERE IT TAKES PLACE? 3.1Forms of off-site construction Off-site construction can take a number of forms. The form and extent of acceptance within the projects will depend on:the type of project: Is there a large proportion of duplication or replication? for example; in hotels and hostels, the type of client: Is the client a one-off or repeat client?, and the relationships and the arrangements between the project members. Off-site buildings and components systems range from small bolt-together sections to virtually complete buildings. Systems can be categorised as: Sub-assemblies Frames Panels (open or closed) Volumetric system Hybrids system 3.1.1 Sub-assemblies Sub-assemblies are the most traditional and widely used system in off-site manufacturing which is being used for many generations. Thistype of off-site construction can include elements using different type of materials such as concrete beams, block floors, and foundations. Prefabricated foundation systems can consist of precast, post-tensioned, concrete beams. Prefabricated beam installation in progress on piles. The beams can be omittedand modular structures can be installed to span directly onto piles and pile caps Photograph courtesy of Van Elle An additional examples for sub- assemblies systems are the glass reinforced plastic for chimneys, steel for curtain walling, and timber stairs. 3.1.2 Frames Framed structures, which are pre-assembled in factories, supply the structural support to buildings and are not something new feature in construction. Lightweight pre-assembled frames which can be delivered promptly to the site, speeding up the construction times for the main structural elements. The benefit of pre-assembled framed structures, that can help of reducing site cutting and the inaccuracies that can arise from it.Untitled-1.jpg Insulated steel frame building system Photograph courtesy of Fusion An example of framed structure is the steel frame module. Steel works in off-site construction are taking the most important part of the factory controlled construction due to the characteristics of the steel itself that can be shaped and moulded in any form; the result is light strong steel modules structures. The UK construction market is one of the most steel intensive in the world, with steel proving to be the material of choice for UK architects and structural engineers in the multi-storey building market. The 2007 Market Shares Survey figures show steel construction consistently takes in excess of 70 per cent over double the market share compared to when the survey was first carried out in the early 1980s.(Housebuilder Developer. 2008). The Steel Construction Institute has carried out a study of different construction projects using various levels of off-site steel construction technologies in busy urban sites. The goal of the study was to recognize the benefits of off-site construction relating to the reduction of the disruption caused to local residents by the construction operations. The study also aimed to quantify these benefits in terms of the reduction in dust, noise, vehicle circulation and the impact of site-generated waste on the environment. 3.1.3 Panels Panels are two dimensional frame that consist both the structural and the infill element, are sealed together on site. Example of panels are pre-assembled floor, wall, and roof panels. Using the right sealants are very important to gain the benefit of off-site manufactured panels in order to stand up the frames rapidly. The simplest form of off-site manufactured panel system is lightweight infill panels that are fixed to the structural frame, where the most complex form are the prefabricated sandwich panels which consist of both, the structural element, internal and external finishes. 3.1.4 Volumetric System Volumetric system is the frame and panel systems, and when the building is assembled and built from a series of volumetric steel or timber modules, connected together to form a room or groups of rooms to form complete structure. Modular construction is also a term used to refer the volumetric assemblies. While the foundations are being prepared under factory conditions, the modules are manufactured and finished (or partially finished) off-site, under factory conditions, then transported to the building site and assembled and connected to the foundations, then added the exterior cladding and the roof. Modular construction is more sustainable than traditional techniques because of the minimum foundations that required and because it is built under factory conditions, the modules are in better quality and defects are minimized. Modular construction uses the same techniques from the industrial sector but the result does not look like mass production product. Sophisticated modules and panels can be produced and can be easily customised by the clients requirements, and with new advanced techniques finishes: cladding and roofing, give the building its natural skin that suites the surrounding. 3.1.5 Hybrids System Plant rooms Plant room is a room or space in a building dedicated to the mechanical and electrical equipments and then they need an intensive labour. If plant rooms built off-site where there is cheaper labour, this can be more economically. Other advantage of plant rooms built in factory is if a project in time difficulties, always the installation of the services is squeezed, so using modular plant rooms certainly will help to avoid this problem. Using system-engineering principles, the resulting prototype has been developed principally for use in the construction of two and seven storey residential developments. It is a hybrid of frame and infill panels, the prototype enables construction in stick form, panels or 3D volumetric units, and works on the principle of a frame and infill system. The mainframe is hot-rolled steel and typically uses regular or square hollow sections with a width of 100mm for both columns and beams to provide a standard interface that can be in filled with floor and non-load bearing wall panels to complete the building. The prototype is based on currently available main components, which can be connected in a variety of ways to suit the individual project to allow flexibility in the level of work carried out off-site. Connections include innovative bolt connections to allow complete demountability, location systems and welded connections, all of which can be used in isolation or as part of a combined system. Bathrooms Pods Bathroom construction process can use Off-site construction technology, which in compare to the traditional way, would normally be carried out on-site. If we remove the construction process of the bathrooms to a controlled factory environment, bathrooms will become more ecological, functional, and with lower building costs. Bathrooms that we call them smart will also become more common with highly environmentally toilets and showers systems and with more advanced technology like tapes with sensors. The quality of bathrooms pods is far superior to the traditional on-site construction, more stylish, with high quality materials, and better for the environment in terms of a lower carbon footprint, lower levels of waste and reduced transportation of components. Bathroom pods are a very economically solution when it integrate with the whole construction process in large quantities such as; student accommodations, hotels, hostels, hospitals, and prisons.3.jpg Walker Modular CHAPTER FOUR: CASE STUDIES 4.1 British Land Ropemaker site, London Ropemaker is a commercial building for British Land, one of the UKs largest Real Estate Investment Trust. It is built in an eminent site in London. The 21 storey and three basement levels has 55,000 square metres net lettable space. The high profile building has impressive green certifications achievement including a BREEAM excellent rating. The development has been realised using off-site construction technologies in a large number of parts in the building. This study aimed to evaluate two products manufactured off-site; a modular walling system Podwall from Swift Horseman, and Technik flooring system supplied by Grants LTD. The research aimed to compare in deep analysis off-site construction techniques products to the traditional way of construction in terms of; waste on-site and off-site, resources needed on site, efficiency and productivity, cost, environmental impact analysis and end of life assessment, health and safety, and installation time. Features of the Podwall system (Swift Horsman. 2010) A flexible modular walling system incorporating finishes and services. All elements manufactured off site in a controlled environment. Innovative fit out solution providing high quality female, male, and disabled toilet units throughout the development. PODWALL research results Performance breakdown (man hours on site) Podwall saved approximately 40% to programme. Each floor at Ropemaker had an 11 week programme to install the Podwall (3 blocks per floor one ladies, one gentlemen and one disabled toilet), which would be equivalent to 15 ½ weeks for traditional fit out. Podwall waste Because the Podwall is manufactured off-site the waste on site is reduced. The largest proportion of waste generated is in the packaging, which ensures the product is protected between factory and site. Across the Ropemaker site a total of approximately 213m3 of waste was produced for all Podwall washrooms. Given the low levels of waste observed during the monitoring of the Podwall, traditional waste would considerably exceed the Podwall waste volumes. The percentage of materials recycled from Ropemaker frequently exceeds 85%. At Ropemaker the Podwall washroom package has a value of approximately  £6m, with 54 toilet blocks being delivered across 1969m2 The main differences in cost between the Podwall and the traditional system are in services installation and cubicles. This is because services are integrated off site into the walls and cubicles for the Podwall which explains the greater cost of these elements, whereas with traditional build the cost of installing services on site is higher. The traditional costs do not account for indirect costs such as the increased cost of waste and removal thereof and the increased programme time to install the traditional product. 4.2 Case Study: Bewdley High School and Sixth Form, Worcestershire This case study involves a school and sixth form building based in Bewdley, Worcestershire. A new building which can meet the needs and expectations of this school is to be proposed, designed and implemented. The requirements are said to be a building which offers flexibility for the school and its occupiers as well as being a low-energy solution. The changing needs of the school means space needs to be provided to accommodate the new influx of around 360 pupils. Yorkon manufacturers, who are based in the city of York, have created a two-storey high building at their off-site location. Due to the nature of the build taking place away at York as an off-site project, the building only took a mere 22 weeks to put together compared to an on-site project which would take longer. This new building has become a project now boasting a title as not only one of the most sustainable modular buildings within the UK, but offers heating via biomass fuel and holds a complex passive and low energy ventilation system. The building comprises of 60 steel-framed modules and has clear internal spans measuring up to 12m for space planning flexibility within. The parts were brought in using cranes and windows and partitions were put into place. The effectiveness of pre-installing the windows and partitions off-site show the efficiency and speed of this new phenomenon. It is a desired and sought after concept to still incorporate off-site construction into the regular and more traditional building techniques. The fact the building has integrated off-site technology into its production whilst still being themed around a conventional and traditional design for a drama and dance studio, ultimately shows the two somewhat diverse approaches to construction working in harmony together. The building comprises a 12 classroom facility which may accommodate the schools Modern Languages, Humanities as well as English Departments. Furthermore, a designated creative-area is also catered for within the design concept as well as an area for an administrative centre. Its design features boast central-heating fuelled by biomass fuel thus being environmentally friendly by minimising harmful carbon emissions. Not only this, but the new building can offer all timber cladding from sources that are confirmed sustainable, a highly-glazed activity studio offering a plentiful amount of natural light and an appealing bespoke roof structure thats pleasing to the eye. Looking further into the buildings design concept in offering a complex passive ventilation system, we can see that the clever idea of well-ventilated rooms provide a more comforting area for study and teaching. This additional air-flow is thus providing better concentration and performance for all those working within the new building. This is achieved through something recognised as passive air-stacking. The sensors installed are there to monitor levels of both carbon dioxide as well as temperature. This enables fresher air to be drawn in accordingly when detected as too low. This is fed diagonally over radiators which prevent the possibility of unwelcome cold draughts. Any stale air from the room is passed out from the room via high capacity discharge terminals found on the roof. This ultimately creates a continuous regulation of new air flow replacing older air providing optimum air composition levels in each room. Professionals working at Yorkon have expressed their views in using off-site construction in this project amongst others. They voiced that the main decision to go for off-site production was speed in completing the project which was highly important in making sure the facility would be ready on time for the new quantity of pupils to be joining the school. Furthermore, Yorkon is keen to be recognised as a reputable name in supplying superior quality along with an eye for sophisticated and precise detail in the designs and bringing revolutionary new techniques to building which can change attitudes towards regular modular construction. This is all despite any challenging timescale. Yorkonis adamant their team has provided the required building which can boast quality, bespoke elements and flexibility along with highly favoured low energy, environmentally friendly and speedy results. (The new building has provided us with spacious accommodation and room sizes that are appropriate for our learning and teaching needs. It is visually pleasing from the outside and fits in well with the locality. Our students have been impressed with the design of the building and it has helped to develop a strong sense of pride in our school and working environment. The modular approach is a very good method of construction for schools as it limits the disruption to learning because of the speed of assembly. The building will be easy to expand and the design is sufficiently flexible to meet the changing needs of our students and curriculum development.-Julie Reilly, Head Teacher and Sixth Form centre.) 4.3 Case Study-Emergency Assessment Unit, University Hospital of North Tees. In this case study we are looking at the new revolutionary building which was designed to fulfil the needs of Interserve Project Services/North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust. The building will be located at the University Hospital of North Tees. The purpose-designed and built Emergency Assessment Unit has been required in order to reduce waiting times for much demanded emergency treatment. This is something the Government has planned as to drive down waiting times for patients. The amount of beds are needed to be increased at the Stockton site as well as the site needing to be able to provide a service to those needing emergency surgical care, based centrally on location rather than some distance away. The unit has promised to feature up-to-date emergency care and include specialist staff who can deal quickly and efficiently with a high number of patients thus increasing patient turnover. The solution to these needs was met through a  £2.8m Procure 21 project which was awarded to Yorkon manufacturers, based in York, by Interserve Project Services. Off-site construction and the installing of a 42-bed Emergency Assessment Unit was the aim for the new building as its production. The building included 42 steel-framed modules manufactured off-site at York and installed on-site in as little as a few days. Disruption was therefore limited and patients could rest unaware of any commotion. The 1,710m square single storey extension to the pre-existing department was astonishingly and impressively erected in just over six months from beginning to end. The building also can boast a full range of modern well-equipped facilities for any acute medical emergencies. Features are listed as including four-bed wards, single en-suite bedrooms, an isolation ward, high-dependency beds, consulting rooms, ward managers office, waiting area, Quiet room, staff changing facilities and rest room and also an interview room. Incorporated into the design were roof lights to increase any natural light in the centre of the unit and furthermore holds latest technology equipment. The installation of workstations are readily available and can be used at a patients bedside. This building proudly boasts to be one of the first units in the country to offer an electronic information board too. Looking to the comments of professionals working within the construction of this new high-tech building, we can see the positive influence of off-site technology in providing rapid, quality solutions to much needy clients

What is a Full Writing System? :: essays research papers

What is a Full Writing System? Full writing systems may be defined as collections of arbitrary signs that can represent all the words of the language to which they are applied. Limited writing systems consisting of marks made for counting or identification go back three thousand years. The evolution of full writing systems has taken place only during the past five thousand years.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Writing systems have made possible the technological advances that has taken humanity from hunting, gathering, and simple farming to exploration of space. Writing created a permanent record of knowledge so that a fund of information could accumulate from one generation to the next. Before writing, human knowledge was confined by the limits of memory. For example, learning something from one self or from talking to another.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Early visual systems such as signaling by gestures or with fire or smoke were limited to the range of eyesight and subject to misinterpretation. Writing allowed accurate communication at a distance without traveling or relying on the memory of a messenger.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Writing includes both picture writing, also know as pictography and ideographs. The use of pictures to represent, not the object drawn but some attribute or idea suggested by the object. For example, a drawing of the sun gives you an idea of warmth. Limited writing refers directly to the object or idea portrayed. Pictograms or ideograms call to mind an image or concept that then may be expressed in language. The reader does not need to know the language of the writer to translate the signs into his or her own language.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A full or true writing system represents words not objects. However, the earliest writing systems came from Mesopotamia, Egypt and, Central America. These writing systems only qualify as limited writing since they used signs that refer to the objects represented and not to the words for the object.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  International traffic signs are effective because they avoid language. Simple pictures instead of words or phrases, makes it more comprehensible to illiterates and speakers of other languages. They warn drivers of road hazards and traffic regulations, which need to be followed in order to keep the road safe. A few other methods of systems are musical and scientific notation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Specific technical information like word syllabic and alphabetic writing is used to represent a language. A full writing system must maintain fixed correspondences between its signs and the element of the language.

Cultural Analysis of The Coldest Winter Ever Essay -- essays research

The Coldest Winter Ever   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Born Lisa Williamson in 1964, Sister Souljah is a hip-hop artist that burst to the forefront of mainstream media in 1992 when she was criticized by then Presidential candidate Bill Clinton for saying â€Å"If Black people kill black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people?† Clinton was trying to prove to other Democrats that he did not sympathize with the organization that Souljah was a member of. She basically said Bill Clinton and went on to sign music and publishing contracts. She has become one of the more passionate and articulate voices to emerge speaking for young African Americans in the United States. She has written and published to works: No Disrespect, and autobiographical account of Souljah’s life, and The Coldest Winter Ever.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Coldest Winter Ever tells of the story of a young woman named Winter. She was born into a family drug operation. Her father was a drug kingpin. Winter never knew about struggles in life. She always had the best of the best; everyone wanted to be like her. This was all taken away when her father’s operation is busted and he goes to jail for the rest of his life. Winter, who has never known poverty, is faced with trying to survive while attempting to continue living in the extravagance to which she has become accustomed. The story follows Winter from the time she is fifteen until she is about twenty-five, in prison serving time for a crime for possessing drugs that belonged to her boyfriend. The story ends with Winter still in jail, not the usual happy ending that accompanies fictional novels. This real life ending is the most important aspect of this novel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Karl Marx argues in The German Ideology that material allows for more culture. Material is the road to true humanity. These materials are not only those things that we possess, such as cars, clothes, and houses, but also material that we gain through life experience itself. Winter defines her life by material. For her, money is God. She begins referencing her material items at once, from the diamond ring set in 24-karat gold she received the day she was born, to the diamond tennis bracelet she received on her sixteenth birthday, to the designer clothes she wore that no one else had or could afford. Even after she has no money because of he... .... International Publishers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2004. Rosteck, Thomas. â€Å"Subject Positions as a Site of Rhetorical Struggle: Representing African   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Americans.† At the Intersection: Cultural Studies and Rhetorical Studies. The Guilford   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Press. New York. 1999. Sheldon, Randall G. â€Å"The History of Criminal Justice from a Critical Perspective.† Controlling   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  the Dangerous Classes: A Critical Introduction to the History of Criminal Justice.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2001.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sister Souljah. The Coldest Winter Ever. Pocket Books, a Division of Simon and Schuster Inc.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Americas, NY. 1999. Sister Souljah. No Disrespect. Vintage Books, a Division of Random House. New York. 1994. Storey, John. â€Å"Fiction.† Cultural Studies and the Study of Popluar Culture second edition.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Athens, Georgia. University of Georgia Press. 2003. Woodson, Carter G. The Mis-Education of the Negro. Trenton, NJ. Africa World Press, Inc.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  March 1998.

Relationship between Hamlet and Rosencrantz Essay

Are there any acceptable reasons to lie to a friend? This question brings us to the issue of true friendship. In the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the relationship between Hamlet and Horatio as well as the relationship between Hamlet with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are presented. These relationships are portrayed by the occasion on which the friends meet, the method in which Hamlet’s friends treat him, and how they act towards him. From these incidents, Horatio proves to be a better friend to Hamlet than either Rosencrantz or Guildenstern. As the play develops, we see that Horatio treats Hamlet with more kindness than both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. This is exemplified in Horatio’s actions in particular, his first meeting with Hamlet where he informed Hamlet about his father’s ghost, then advised him not to follow the ghost, and helped him perform the mousetrap in order to prove Claudius’ guilt in the murder of King Hamlet. In the beginning, after witnessing the appearance of King Hamlet’s ghost, Horatio informs Hamlet of what he saw. â€Å"I think I saw [your father] yesternight.† (I, ii, 188). The fact, that Horatio would tell his friend that he saw the ghost of his dead father every day for the last week proved that Horatio cared for Hamlet. Next, Horatio tried to protect Hamlet by warning him of possible dangers that could arise if he followed his father’s ghost. Hamlet: â€Å"It will not speak, then I will follow it† Horatio: â€Å"Do not, my lord†¦What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord,/ Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff.† (I, iv, 62-63, 69-70) From this scene, Horatio is shown to be protecting Hamlet from dangers that could occur, an act that a true friend would carry out. Finally, Horatio helped Hamlet to perform the mousetrap in order to determine if Claudius really killed King Hamlet. Hamlet: â€Å"one scene of it comes near the circumstances which [Hamlet] have told [Horatio] of [his] father’s death†¦ Observe [Claudius]: if his occulted guilt.† Horatio: â€Å"well, my lord:/ If [Claudius] steal aught the whilst this play is playing,/ And ‘scape detecting, [Horatio] will pay the theft.† (III, ii, 75-76,79, 87-88) In this act, Horatio has agreed to team up with Hamlet, and defy his allegiance to the King of Denmark, to see if the Claudius killed King Hamlet. These events are evidence of the true friendship Horatio has with Hamlet. During the play, Hamlet is also introduced to his childhood friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Though they have known each other from a young age, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern prove not to be as true in their friendship to Hamlet as Horatio. This is evidenced by their reason come to Denmark, their first meeting with Hamlet, and the way in which they treated him. When Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive in Denmark they are welcomed by Claudius and Gertrude because they were sent for by the King and Queen. â€Å"Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern†¦ The need we have to use you did provoke/ Our hasty sending.† (II, ii, 1, 3-4). Since Rosencrantz and Guildenstern came to Denmark because they were called upon, and did not come on their own free will, this proves that they are not true friends to Hamlet. Next, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agreed to Claudius and Gertrude’s proposal to spy on Hamlet. Claudius: â€Å"†¦ and to gather, †¦Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus,† Guildenstern: â€Å"But we obey† (II, ii, 15-18, 29) Since Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agreed to spy on Hamlet, their own friend, this reveals that they are not true friends. Finally, after Hamlet figured out that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were sent to spy on him did they finally confess â€Å"my Lord, we were sent for.† (II, ii, 292). After the truth came out, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tried to make Hamlet feel better because he felt that he was in a prison living in Denmark because the ghost  told Hamlet of his murder and the adulterous relationship Gertrude had with Claudius. From examining the events surrounding the relationships of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern with Hamlet, it is plain to see that they were not good friends to Hamlet. In comparing Rosencrantz and Guildenstern relationship with Hamlet to Horatio’s relationship with Hamlet, it is clear that Horatio was a better friend. From the initial meeting of the two sets of friends to how they treated the main character, Horatio proved to be kinder to Hamlet throughout. First of all, the fact that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are called to Denmark by the King and Queen and did not come because they wanted to see their friend is very telling of the level of friendship they have with Hamlet. This is unlike Horatio, who goes out and seeks Hamlet in order to tell him about his father. Secondly, Hamlet shows his trust towards Horatio when he indulges his plan to figure out if Claudius killed his father. This is in contrast to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern who agreed to help Claudius figure out what was wrong with Hamlet. Finally, Horatio wanted to protect Hamlet from dangers when he warned him that something negative could possibly happen if he followed the ghost. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern only acted nicely to Hamlet once he figured out that they were sent to spy on him. These events provide evidence that Horatio was a better friend to Hamlet than Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were. In conclusion, from comparing the relationship between Rosencrantz and Guildenstern with Hamlet versus the relationship of Horatio with Hamlet, the evidence viewed, such as his first encounter with Hamlet, the way the main character is treated, and how the friends act with him, showed that Horatio was a true friend to Hamlet. Though, a person may make many friends throughout their lifetime, their actions provide the evidence that is used to determine who are in fact true friends.

John Dryden Translator of Virgil Essay

John Dryden translated Virgil in the late 1690’s when more than fifty Englishmen before him had tried to translate at least some Virgil and many translated after his death in the seventeenth century as John Denham and Edmund Waller. What makes Dryden’s translation the most successful version, the most read and accepted between its competitors? How did Dryden translate his Virgil and why? And what kind of response did his translation receive at the time? â€Å"Without invention a painter is but a copier, and a poet but a plagiary of others. Both are allowed sometimes to copy and translate†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Dryden stated that he used paraphrase and literal translation when translating Virgil, which allowed him the liberty of modernizing it. Dryden believes that he used what was best in matter, form and style in translating Virgil by means of paraphrasing, rephrasing, and changing some phrases which when translated word for word would produce an odd meaning of the terms. â€Å"Imitators are but a servile of cattle† says Dryden, the reason why he didn’t want just to imitate Virgil, but personalize and domesticate his translation. By doing this, Dryden transformed Virgil’s poems, and particularly the Aeneid, into autobiographical and personal statements. So, how did he do this? Dryden used the political background of the events that happened in Rome and paralleled them to recent political events to express his personal opinions. By the way of adding and modifying phrases, Dryden changes the tone of the first Eclogue from melancholy to bitter, transforming the poem to express his own depressed spirit. This spirit changes and develops further in the ninth Eclogue which has a similar background as the first. Here, Dryden makes full use of the poem to attack literally the Williamite government, where he accuses it of killing his creativity. He substitutes â€Å"the corrupt city† of Virgil by â€Å"the Court† continuing with his bitter feelings towards the Establishment with phrases like â€Å"the Bribes of Court†. Furthermore, the Virgil volume was dedicated to non- Williamite noblemen. Dryden’s loathing of William often makes him bring hostility to foreignness in Virgil. His Virgil has been seen as a Jacobite work, supporting the exiled James II. Another huge background change was the introduction of Christian universe. Dryden introduces Christian terms to the Virgil, replacing the Roman paganism. He introduces â€Å"Heaven† with all its Christian connotations, replacing Virgil’s words for the gods, the fates, and fortune. This new Christian conception changes the character and mission of the hero. Aeneas is transformed into a Christian who bears his misfortunes with patience as he is on a divine mission. â€Å"I have endeavour’d to make Virgil speak such English as he wou’d himself have spoken, if he had been born in England, and in this present Age† As to the language of translation, Dryden’s version has many identical traces with the works of many others who preceded him. Dryden is thought to have read at least forty of the previous Virgil translations. He is thought to have borrowed many of Douglas’s word translations; Chaucer’s rhymed couplets and most of all, Lauderdale’s word rhymes. Dryden â€Å"thought it fit to steer betwixt the two Extreams, of Paraphrase, and Literal Translation† and stated that â€Å"Some things too I have omitted, and sometimes added of my own†. â€Å"But by what Authority? † , asked Luke Milbourne angrily. From its first appearance, Dryden’s Virgil was canonized. His most distinguished antagonists are Swift and Wordsworth. Swift wrote â€Å"A Tale of a Tub† which takes aim at Dryden, intending his demolition but failed enormously and may have even contributed to Dryden’s sale. Wordsworth wrote â€Å"whenever Virgil can be fairly said to have had his eye upon his object, Dryden always spoils the passage. † Milbourne, in his â€Å"Notes on Dryden’s Virgil†, details objections to nearly six hundred separate passages, and supplies many alternatives of his own or Ogilby’s renderings, saying that although his words are not well placed, but they keep the original meaning of Virgil. Spence in his Polymetis , an illustrated mythology book, advances numerous objections to Dryden’s Virgil. Another attack is from E. M. W. Tillyard who objects on his crudity, vulgarity, or sometimes over-gentility. Samuel Johnson remarked that â€Å"Dryden’s faults are forgotten in the hurry of delight, and Pitt’s beauties are neglected in the languor of a cold and listless perusal. † Dryden’s style aims at the clarification of Virgil and transparency of translation. By domestication, and parallelism of the political background, Dryden was able to produce an epic which came alive after centuries, by adding to it his passions, senses and the concerns of his own age. Sources: * Dryden’s Virgil: Translation as Autobiography, Thomas H. Fujimura, University of North Carolina Press, 1983 * Dryden’s Virgil, William Frost, CL summer 1984, Volume 36, # 3. * John Dryden, Preface to Ovid’s Epistles, in Of Dramatic Poesy and Other Critical essays, ed. George Watson (London, 1962) II, p. 195. * Dryden, J ; (1956) â€Å"Preface to Ovid’s Epistles† (1680), in E. N. Hooker and H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (eds), The works of John Dryden, vol. 1, Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press. * Luke Milbourne, Notes on Dryden’s Virgil (1698 ; rpt. New York and London, 1971) pp. 32, 80, 136 * Dryden : The Critical Heritage, ed. James Kinsley and Helen Kinsley (London and New York, 1971), p. 324 * Joseph Spence, Polymetis (1747; rpt. New York and London, 1976) * The Cambridge Companion to Virgil, (ed. ) Charles Martindale: Cambridge University Press, 1997, p. 31