Analysis and Valuation of General Dynamics Essay

Analysis and Valuation of General Dynamics - Essay Example The total sales revenue was USD 30, 852. General Dynamics Corporation conducts business with worldwide government customers like governments of Australia, The United Kingdom, Switzerland, Spain, Mexico and Canada. There is a long term commitment to enhance customer relationships with regional suppliers and employers in the identified governments. The commercial business segment of the corporation entails export of business-jet aircrafts and global aircraft services. In recent years, there is significant expansion of business-jet aircraft services. Expansion of market segments is also seen in emerging markets (PRAHALAD, 2008). There is growing segment of aircraft business in the international markets. The international market segment grew by 60% in the year 2014. The company competes with both small and large companies which are specialized in capability or technology. Combat systems compete with a number of foreign and domestic companies. There is one primary competitor of Marine systems called Hurtington Ingallas Industries. The company was formerly known as Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. The company subcontracts and partners in many programs such as SSN 774 Virginia Class Submarines. The company is involved in subcontracting and teaming relationship with the competitors. It team works, the company acts as an integrator who oversees efforts of all team members in the contract. The General Dynamics main competitors in defense market include Boeing, BAE Systems, Raytheon, Ingallas Industries, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin. The key competitors in the aircraft range include Gulfstream Competitors, Cessna, Dassault and Embraer (DAMODARAN, 2013). The main competitive factors in the aircraft market business include reliability of aircraft, performance, and aircraft safety, comfort of aircraft, in-flight productivity, timeliness, service quality, and offer of competitive prices. Aspects such as new product

Design an Early Childhood Education Website Essay

Design an Early Childhood Education Website - Essay Example This is a key and significant trend in the early childhood education and if this trend is not addressed properly then the rate of dropouts will increase drastically. â€Å"In 2002, then President George Bush passed into law the No Child Left Behind(NCLB) Act, which sought to improve the academic performance of disadvantaged student.† (Bird, 2013) Early literacy: Another key trend associated with the childhood education is early literacy. Generally the first association of kids with books, stories as well as their first significant attempt to write something generally happens within first 3 years. So it is also responsibility of the parents as well to ensure that there is a significant amount of interest of among the kids related to books, study as well as writing. Reggio Emilia Approach: In discussion of early childhood education. The Reggio Emilia Approach is one of the key trend associated with early childhood education and wasfirst introduced in the year of 1940. Followings are the key features associated with this approach: The ever changing political, social status of the world society has its impact on the early child education system in the world. If one consider the same from an integrated approach, that is considering child education and care together, there are 2 separate phenomenon associated with the early child education program: The second one is the less apparent one associated with various kinds of cultural, political and economic events which strongly influenced the adaptation of relatively integrated approach discussed earlier to ensure early childhood education. (Haddad, 2006) This approach is most modern one and is developed on the basis of research and analysis of the child care service model and preschool education model. The main focus of this new model is to remove the inconsistencies associated with

Autism and Social Skills Essay Example for Free

Autism and Social Skills Essay Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that ranges from mild to severe impairments in communication, social interaction, and repetitive pattern of interest. Children with autism need early social skills support to develop their social interactions and understanding. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and socialization among young children and adolescence is one of the major impairments, along with language individuals have. Social skills groups are prearranged groups with, a direct goal orientated to engage young children and adolescences with the appropriate support, in the development of social skills. Social skills groups for young children and adolescences can be a viable tool, in helping children with ASD to learn how to socialize appropriately. The Socialization of young children with a diagnosis of ASD has shown some positive results. This pilot study was conducted in response to the heightened awareness and the need for young children with ASD to learn social skills. The parents of autistic children, the children that have a diagnosis of ASD and the facilitators of the groups, will engage the children in social sessions, in hopes to build social relationships. The parents will fill out questionnaires as to the progress they see their children making. This pilot study sets out to answer the following two questions. Is participation in a social skills group beneficial for young children / adolescence with ASD from the child’s, Parents and the facilitator’s perspectives? The second question posed was, is there any improvement in the autistic child’s ability to communicate or interrelate socially. Methodology Based on a review of literature on Autism, a psychologist and a clinical psychologist planed a structured 5-week program, for one-hour sessions, one day a week. Only children with a diagnosis of ASD were invited. The children’s ages ranged from seven to 18. Using the qualitative method, the parental focus group was used to gather data and answer two research questions. Each parent received three questionnaires developed for the purpose of this evaluation. One was a pre- questionnaire, to be completed at the beginning of the groups, the post questionnaire, at the end of groups, and a review questionnaire, to be completed six months following the social skills groups. The questionnaires were used for the parents to rate their child’s current level of difficulties. Results and Discussions The high cost of one on one therapy for autistic children has become too high for caregivers and the need for alternative approaches was necessary. Evidence suggested that social skills groups for autistic children would be an alternative Dunlop, Knott and Mackay (2000). The information gathered from parent questionnaires and through observations from the facilitators and the higher functioning adolescents with ASD showed there was a need for social skills programs. Some parents felt their children benefitted and others seen no change. The feedback was very positive and most of the participants would like the social skills groups to continue. There were several areas identified within the program that needs fine-tuning such as, smaller groups, the level or severity of ASD the children have, longer duration of sessions without summer breaks and addressing how to manage the challenging behaviors some of the autistic children displayed, which prevented them from engaging socially within the groups. There was no time for one on one interaction, to encourage those children that did not socialize during the five-week program. The facilitators observed this and felt that it was an important issue to address along with the other recommendations above, when planning social skills programs. I choose this article because I am a parent of an autistic child and I am always looking for new treatment methods. I like to stay informed of all the new research on autism to share with my son. I think there is a need to socialize all persons with autism and the ideal of social skills groups cannot hurt; it can enhance the quality of life for the autistic child.

Distinction Between Realism and Naturalism

Distinction Between Realism and Naturalism 1. Is the distinction between realism and naturalism worth preserving in discussion of film and/or television drama? To argue that the distinction between naturalism and realism is worth preserving the intention in this case is to explore classic and contemporary texts and attempt to make clear that naturalism alone is insufficient when discussing key themes and elements. To first examine the work of la novelle vague at first glance this film and cultural movement does not seem to be in keeping with the theory and approaches to cinematic realism. Critics would perhaps argue that The French new wave is a stylistic movement born from a frustration to the mainstream â€Å"Hollywood† conventions or â€Å"cinema du papa†. Although on the surface this may indeed be true, but it can be argued, that many of the texts coming out of the French new wave movement were indeed the height of realism. To first examine jean luc Godards classic film a bout de suffle or â€Å"breathless† this to some epitomises the stylistic new wave movement that was happening in France, and soon after Britain. Layered with superfluous stylistic techniques and dislocated continuity, watching breathless is undeniably a challenge. But breathless certainly meets the criteria of being a film entrenched in social realism. Godard uses real interior and exterior locations here, naturalistic performances, improvised dialogue (although cinematographer raul cautard refutes this), natural lighting and action is not a constant motivator of the editing. Perhaps from a first viewing one would think that breathless is film with all the codes of naturalism at work. However, breathless deals with many societal and cultural issues which are generic conventions of a realist text Firstly breathless cinematic approach is certainly stylised but Godard fuses realistic camera techniques with stylistic flair, although the spectator is often jostled and at a loss at times with breathless as Godard subverts many traditional filmic conventions, but: â€Å"It is usually a â€Å"revolt† against previous conventions which characterises a break towards realism in the arts†. Raymond Williams. For example, Michel drives to Marseilles, the cinematography is a mix between the cars passenger seat as it jostles with the bumps of the road and right on top of the cars bonnet, bringing the spectator in the thick of the action, instead of at a distance from it, much like a naturalist approach. Michel sings and talks to himself in the car and shockingly looks directly into the camera and states â€Å"if you dont like the sea, if u dont like the mountains, if u dont like the big city, then get stuffed†. This acknowledgement by Michel is important as it alludes to him acting in a role, breaking the hermetic barrier between film and viewer, and reminds the viewer that this is actually a film, and this is one of many direct address shots within the film. This is a break of the â€Å"suspension of disbelief† and this is important because this is an act of defiance, normally associated with current affairs, fact based programming and Godard fuses this into a work of fiction . This fusion further makes claims of realism. Moreover, Godard here and elsewhere utilizes the theory of Bertolt Brecht, wherein this instant of direct address reminds the viewer that this is a â€Å"representation of reality† and not reality in itself, the viewer is not left passively complacent, but challenged to engage through the very nature if it being unfamiliar and startling. A further shock in this scene is Michels imitation of a pistol firing, and the noise is disturbingly loud compared to the soundtrack, and the spectator is given a visceral shock out of passivity. Although somewhat confusingly; on the whole the audience is never far from the characters, their world and their lives. to reinforce this claim Godard is a an exponent of continuous action and deep focus, for instance the scene in which Michel and Patricia walk along the champs Elsie Godard follows the couple in a continuous tracking shot, this level of deep focus and the way in which the audience stays with the couple allows the audience insight into the filmic world because of our proximity to the characters. Furthermore in a continuous sequence whereby Michel goes to retrieve a check from his friend tolmatchoff, they meet and are followed walking through the foyer, tolmatchoff is called out of the shot, leaving Michel on his own, yet still there is no cutaway until Michel leaves the agency and the police arrive, this may seem peculiar but it allows the audience choice on what or who to focus their attention on; either one of the men or the surroundings. This is in effect an unmedi ated, unbiased presentation, and a similar convention is again seen in Scorseses Goodfellas. A notorious scene within breathless is interesting in particular, as it continues for thirty minutes without a cutaway or change of scene, Patricia and Michel sit in Patricias bedroom, talking about very little, the dialogue provides no insight to further character development nor plot, but it could be deemed that this extraneous dialogue instead of being the usual enunciator of genre and / or narrative progress, that it is the enunciation of realism. By contrast within a naturalism text the cinematography would be dealt with subtly i.e, establishing and wide shot, eyeline matches, and sequences of shot / reverse shots, this is important as this is a classic continuity editing, with its purpose to be submissive to narrative action. To compare the grocery store scene in the very first episode of coronation street; to Michel meeting tolmatchoff in breathless. In each a character moves about the environment, in the first a cut is made when dialogue alludes to something important to plot, character or narration, in breathless, no cuts are made but fluid camera work keeps the spectator involved. In coronation street there is obvious care taken towards the mimicry of real life. â€Å"Kitchens sink† drama, and relatable content; on the surface should personify notions of naturalism. But the distinction between naturalism and realism in Coronation Street become too interweaved and blurred to maintain any distinction between the two. Cinematographically it is loaded with naturalist techniques, but thematically Coronation Street is infused with cultural and societal issues, the family, community, class frustrations and personal relationships. The transition of these would be none existent if naturalism is a sole a pproach. Both godard and the television soap: coronation street both employ realist conventions in different but interesting ways. Coronation Street is fuelled with notions of the â€Å"invisible observer†, this is indeed mediated but allows the communication of real themes: â€Å"The natural transference of attention of an imaginary observer.†.â€Å"an observer ideally mobile in space and time.†. p9 In stark contrast to the brechtian inspired Breathless, the invisible observer nevertheless a form that allows codes of realism to be transmitted. Instead of sneering at the passive spectator utilizes the concept to communicate themes entrenched in realism. In terms of cinematography breathless employs subversive techniques; from the very start of the film we begin in disequilibrium with the lack of a clear establishing shot, soon after the 180 rule is also broken, and throughout Godard uses constant close-ups, these halt narrative action. So these and other cinematographic techniques are not motivated by narration, but style. Godard on the whole is disinterested in the pursuit of the overall narrative, but the relationship between Michel and Patricia, this again is a defiance of classical forms of narration as traditionally cinematography are subservient to narrative. Editing is invisible and unobtrusive. But because the cinematography and editing are self conscious.. and editing which must by default further the layers of realism at work within breathless The characterisation at work within a bout de suffle is certainly not one dimensional, although both Michel could be defined as a sexist or misogynist but he is an outdated stereotype, although he succeeds with his active sexism, stealing from a woman he appears to know etc, he is inevitably punished by the end, although by far this is not activism in breathless, but it does blaze the trail for new thinking between the genders and more importantly these readings are available within the text which further solidify the need to maintain realism and Furthermore Patricias character could be deemed progressive in terms of realism rather than transgressive, she has a clear understanding of her own identity unlike the romanticism of Michel. she understands she must enrol in Sorbonne to study to maintain her life in France, and when she meets her business friend van doude, his lechery seems manipulated by her for her pursuit to further her journalism career, and critically she is indeed Michels demise in the end, this is one of the first representations of women that has not been submissive to patriarchy, Michel constantly lusts after Patricia but she constantly thwarts him but has no problem using her own sexuality to further her own cause, Patricia is in complete control of her fortune. Furthermore she does not take a supporting role like perhaps a young woman would in an Ealing Melodrama, nor does Michel conform to a traditional protagonist, for example his hero; bogart in Casablanca, appears in every single shot within the film, he drives the narrative, however, Michel appears in a small fraction, these further the pursuit of realism within breathless, cinematically and ideologically as godard again further subverts cinematic convention, with representation and sporadic use of his protagonist. Also the transgressive character types break the mould The causality seems bizarre in breathless, Michel is shown going about mundane tasks, irrelevant action is used by Godard instead of a classical mode of narration, i.e action motivates editing and narrative choices. Because Godard subverts this it again falls into a realism category, furthermore as Roland Barthes discusses: â€Å"The narrative process; providing neither narrative information nor character insight, it is, in effect, their function to signify â€Å"reality†, to furnish the â€Å"effect of the real†. Although fraught with ideologies, breathless is not an explicitly political text, the only political allusion is the presidential motorcade. For me this is realist convention not based in naturalism, it gives particularly Michel another dimension. It creates juxtaposition between the cultural youth enterprising psyche in France at the time, and disillusionment felt by many of the youth who didnt adapt to this dogma, but also conforms to the â€Å"new wave trope of the anti- hero. This leads to an issue of the individuals place within society, the audience learns very little about Michel and the information we do glean is questionable, he seems to have no real roots, but he and Patricia both seem socially alienated, and somewhat disenfranchised with society, others may read these characters as fairly simple, that they respond to and are influenced by just their surrounding etc, which would fit into a naturalist framework but i argue, they are both amoral but and disillusioned stemmin g from a larger societal problem: that of the cultural void left by world war two. Michel is metonymic for the French youth during the 1950s. For me this can only be qualified by Michels lust after Patricia, a young American woman, and the constant mimicry of his idol: Humphrey Bogart, also American. In other words, post WW2 France is a cultural vacuum and American consumerism / capitalism has replaced the â€Å"old† France. This reading into a bout de soufflà © is based on a realism school of thought, so the distinction between naturalism and realism is a pertinent one to maintain, otherwise the â€Å"real life† drama behind social realism texts cannot be found. In contrast to this, coronation street alludes to nothing global, political or religious, in this way it is the height of being secular, but because of this coronation street has â€Å"space† to concentrate on the universality of human emotion and dilemma. The lack of a traditional realism category in Coronation Street allows thematic space for â€Å"everyday† reality to be conveyed. To return to breathless and Michels emulation of Humphrey Bogart is evidence that godard is critically aware of Hollywood iconography and conventions, breathless is peppered with noir / gangster genre tropes, Michels trilby, and urban landscape, guns, the police investigation etc. Although this genre does not frame Godards text, however it is interweaved with the tradition of realism or rather the representation of the â€Å"real†, most importantly as Michel is punished and killed at the films climax. Furthermore, Godards use of the jump cut and other unsettling devices, these all disrupt the narrative and genre from doing their â€Å"conventional† roles. So the culmination of these must be that Godard is aware of these Hollywood tropes but either subverts them or denies them working at all for me this blazes a trail for social and socially extended realism to show through. But even this is morphed, as the spectator is not thrown into the film world much like the effect of Boyles Trainspotting, but rather the spectator oscillates between consuming narrative action and objectively engaging with it. It would be easy to mistake Coronation Street for sheer naturalism, or any television soap as a naturalist text, for many reasons. But as discussed below the surface there is a pool of depth that is in keeping with notions of realism. To contrast a assumed naturalist text in Coronation Street to a literal naturalist text in Shakespeares King Lear, the differences are stark, although a very old text, the contrast is still interesting, the subject matter is high class monarchy, the characters motivations are clear, money, power, love. And all characters are influenced by each other and their environment, there is little ambiguity nor psychological and philosophical depth. Contrasting Shakespeares classic work with Coronation Street where human emotion and interaction is explored this twinned with the ideological presentation of character in Breathless. It becomes clear that naturalism provides very little in terms of exposing any â€Å"truth† within an audio visual text. Continuing with naturalism, although with reference to theatre Jean Jullien (1854-1919) states: â€Å"A play is a slice of life put onstage with art.† This quote perhaps personifies Shakespeares work, in this case. It is a slice of life, a snapshot of the â€Å"real†, without the any of the characteristics of either being real i.e. Coronation Street; Or representing reality, I.e. Godards Breathless. To explore naturalism I wish to discuss the television drama: Coronation Street, specifically the very first episode as it is perhaps more suitable of the time period when considering Godards breathless, naturalism and its conventions are in stark contrast with regard to the issues previously discussed. Coronation Street is motivated by trying to recreate â€Å"real† life. Coronation street is not fraught with economic, political or ideological concepts, its main focus is on individual relationship and the interaction between them, and on there environment, and because of this there is a certain distance between viewer and there are obvious distinctions between these two texts on the exterior coronation street here makes use of indoor naturalist settings, furthermore the use of regionalised specifically northern characters, Coronation Street begins with an establishing shot of the street accompanied by extra digetic music, setting the particular setting and the regional place, i.e brass music, with its links to northern heritage. The audience enters a small shop, all camera movement and editing is submissive to dialogue and action, although most prominently shown within the dinner table scene with ken Barlow, rapid cuts are utilized to focus on whichever character speaks, this is classic continuity editing, this is an invisible unobtrusive technique and as the performances are naturalistic it forces the audience the focus of the â€Å"reality† at work. Although breathless deals with subversive character types, coronation street deals with existing stereotypes, for association in the audience, the working classes most prominently with â€Å"kitchen sink† subject matter. This is a form of socially extended realism. The material in Coronation Street is realistic: Poverty, economy and class are intimated within the drama but it always kept within the boundaries of how these issues effect the individual. For this reason it would be deemed Coronation Street is socially extended realism. For example Ken Barlows parents feel he is rejecting his roots, a class issue; dealt with within the confines of the dynamics of family relationships. So the primary focus of this television drama is the mimesis between screen and real life,

Music: Its a Way of Life :: Music

After a rough day, when you come home from work, you need something that will make your day better. The best choice you will have is listening to your favorite type of music. You can just turn on your compact disc player and have a great time listening to your music collection. Everyone has a music collection or at least a favorite genre. Did you know that just for English music there are over 10 genres? There is one for everyone. We all have different choices for music, none is better than the other. People these days listen to all kinds of music: hip-hop, classical, country, etc. People are really picky with what they listen to. People don’t want to compromise with what they are listening to, they don’t have to. Approximately, there are over two million songs written and published in the music industry since its birth (Answers.com). According to the stats shown, we know that people have countless choices of music to choose from these days. Music gives you a variety of choices and beats that you have never heard before. There are approximately 50 albums published every week (Approximately how many songs have been produced in the US and the UK since the music industry was born). Music has become a way of life in some parts of the world. Music has a influence on people all over the world. As we all know, music has been existing for over fifty thousand years (History of classical music traditions). Music is a source of living for a lot of people in this world. People take music as religion in some parts of the globe. Then there are also people that take music as pleasure and business. People now use music to express themselves in public and with friends. Music has a variety of genres, and these genres have a variety of songs. People have become what they listen to. If they like country music, they are called old fashioned people. If they like classical music, they are called band geeks. If they like rock music, they have become middle-aged people. If they like hard rock music, then they have become emos. If they like hip-hop or R&B music, then they are called cool people. If they like jazz and techno music, they are called the twenty’s. The modern music has changed how people live, by categorizing people in groups. When you go to school, there are different groups that the kids have divided themselves into: normal, band geeks, and emos.

Upcoming Initiatives within the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit A

Legal Advice: Upcoming Initiatives within the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) 1. Describe the company and the major initiative(s) they have planned for the next five years: In 1967, within the Washington DC metropolitan area, Congress authorized a government agency, created through an interstate compact, known as WMATA, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Since its start in 1976, WMATA has grown into five rail lines with over 106 miles of tracks, 1,500 buses, and 86 different stations, which provides services to a population of 3.4 million within a 1,500 square mile jurisdiction. (WMATA, 2012) Commonly known by many of the District of Columbia area residents as Metro, we rely on WMATA to provide alternative modes of transportation throughout much of the District, suburban Maryland, and northern Virginia areas, which include Metrorail, Metrobus, and MetroAccess services. In a 2008 WMATA News Release, Metro planners predicted there would be a 42 percent increase in consumer use within the next 25 years. (WMATA, 2008) In order for supply to meet demand, Metro officials have constructed an extensive six year Capital Improvement Pl an (CIP) that began in 2010 and will expire in mid-2016. Several constituents the CIP will cover includes: implementing past National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) safety recommendations, purchasing new system software and track maintenance equipment, new and/or rehabilitated rail cars and lines, and replacing several bus facilities. (Kissal, 2011) 2. Determine which elements of administrative law will be most relevant to the upcoming initiatives and what the impact of those laws will be. In the wake of the 2009 tragic accident and... ...have to worry so much about product reliability. References: Access Board, The United States. (n.d.). The United States Access Board. Retrieved February 25, 2012, from Access-Board.Gov: http://www.access-board.gov/about/laws/ada.htm Bagley, C. E. (2009). Managers and the Legal Environment. Mason: Cengage Learning. Kissal, C. D. (2011). Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2011. Washington DC: WMATA. WMATA. (2008, April 18). Metro details improvements to meet future capacity needs. Retrieved February 24, 2012, from WMATA: 2. http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=2064 WMATA. (2010). August 13 2010 Response to FTA. Washington DC: Dougherty, James. WMATA. (2012). Metro - Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Retrieved February 24, 2012, from WMATA: http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/

Group Performance Evaluation

I think that we have done well in our performence. As we have been chosen to performe to another class as our idea was creative. I had done a good job, and remembered my scrpit I stuck to my role all the time and I did not make any mistsakes. I suggested that the first scene be a mimed flashback about the mother packing away and leaving with some depressing music in the background. I thought this would work well because it meant the audience would be drawn into the drama from the beginning and it would be an imaginative way to start the piece. It was my idea to change a spotlight/lights for a different scene when we did our monologue as I thought that this would face the audience's attention onto us and they would then listen carefully to what we were saying. As well as the audience will know when the scene would be changing. Jake suggested that Julia should make her voice louder and more aggressive when she was shouting at the us as this would make her character more realistic and the audience would also be frightened of her. We all took responsibility for the lights and our performence in our drama and came in at lunchtimes to choose the lights we needed for the movement scene and record our monologue. During the performance we worked the lightning for the scenes and asked Bandana to manage then. We were pleased because the lights came on at the right time. I tried-to change my voice to women one to show that I was playing the mother. Although I found it hard, it worked well and everyone said that they were really impressed. When my character was getting angry about my father and husband I changed my tone to a really angry one and I made my voice shake as if I was going to cry. This didn't work as well as I wanted it to be but my clarity was not good and my voice didn't sound shaky enough. But Jake on the other hand done a brilliant job and made himself cry when he had an a emotional scene. Jade done well as well. She changed her tone of voice so it suited the situation When we wanted to show the feelings of our character we made our volume low and we whispered when we were . This worked really well with the movement we chosen which was to look down at the start. My gyestures were unussual because my character was quite a nervous person I made sure that I fiddled a lot with my sleeves and did not make eye contact with the other characters when I was speaking to Julia. When my character spoke I used my hands a lot to express myself as my character was a very enthusiastic person but depressed at the same time. My character had the habit of playing with a pen when thinking about things, for example during the monologue and when I had to tell Julia I was playing with something. I decided to do this as it is a common thing for people to do and added believability to my character