Vegetarianism Essays (641 words) - Diets, Vegetarianism,

Vegetarianism Vegetarianism is the limitation of ones diet to only vegetables. Vegetarianism has been around for centuries, but recently we have seen the eruption of a more militant vegetarianism that is inspired by the animal "rights" movement. Today, vegetarian activists are throwing pies at Ronald McDonald and the Pork Queen, scrawling "meat is murder" in prominent locations, committing terrorist acts of arson, and waging media campaigns equating meat consumption with cannibalism. Vegetarians are, on the average, far healthier than those who consume the typical Western diet, and enjoy a lower incidence of many chronic diseases. However, it has not been proven that one must eliminate meat from one's diet in order to be healthy. It has been aptly demonstrated that the typical Western diet contains too much fat. Eliminating meat from the diet is one way to reduce fat, but it is not the only way. Vegetarian diets have also been shown to increase the risk for nutrient deficiencies. Children are particularly vulnerable and can lead to growth problems. Vegetarian children often fail to grow as well as their omnivorous counterparts despite protein intakes. Ecological arguments against omnivorous and carnivorous eating are little more than an attempt by those from the less popular animal "rights" movement to ride the coattails of the more popular environmental movement. In some cases, warnings of impending environmental cataclysm are used to advance an ethical agenda. However, arguments to the effect that eating meat is "destroying the planet" overlook that the planet has not yet been destroyed despite millions of years of omnivorous and carnivorous eating by millions of individuals from a multitude of species. The Second Law of Thermodynamics dictates that some energy will be inevitably lost as one moves up the food web. Therefore, arguments about how it takes X pounds of plant protein to generate Y pounds of meat have a sound theoretical basis. However, these arguments are often overstated. These arguments falsely assume that pork chops and steak are the only products of animal agriculture. They falsely presume that a pound of animal foodstuffs is nutritionally and energetically equivalent to a pound of plant foodstuffs. These arguments also ignore the energy content and opportunity cost of replacing animal by-products, which is considerable. Even the animal's excrement is a valuable resource. Certain animal products, such as fetal calf serum, collagen and laminin are crucial for medical research using cell cultures, and have no available alternatives. If certain practices associated with animal agriculture are found to be ecologically unsound, it does not merit a general opposition to eating meat. Though not practical for everyone, hunting and fishing bypass any potential ecological destruction associated with plant or animal agriculture. They are thus two of the most ecologically sound ways to obtain one's sustenance. Those who would oppose even limited exploitation of these alternatives have ethical concerns masquerading as environmental concerns. The most disingenuous ecological ploy made by "ethical" vegeta rians is the "...we could feed X starving people with Y percent of the resources devoted to animal agriculture..." argument. First, it falsely implies that humans are starving because of insufficient production capacity. World hunger is a result of deficient distribution of food, not deficient capacity for production of food. Our capacity to produce grain is so vast that we actually pay farmers not to produce. Secondly, if the argument were valid, the resultant increase in human population would exacerbate rather than remedy ecological concerns regarding human population. Though vegetarianism does offer clear health benefits, one need not become vegetarian in order to have a healthy diet. Diet is only one important aspect of health. The avoidance of harmful habits such as smoking is as important, if not more so. Killing less sentient beings for sustenance is not ethically superior when one can, through fruitarianism, minimize the intentional killing of all macroscopic beings. 22 July, 1998 English 1A

Ethical Culture Analysis Essay Essay Example

Ethical Culture Analysis Essay Essay Example Ethical Culture Analysis Essay Essay Ethical Culture Analysis Essay Essay Ethics Essay Introduction In business, ethics is the level of degree to which an organization operates in a way that gets deemed as right by both the internal and external business (Clements, 2010). Therefore, an ethical, cultural analysis is the evaluation of whether a firm is operating within its ethical obligations or not. A firm is expected to operate in a way both the employees, clients government and the general public will feel satisfied. In that line, the extent to which an organization practices its ethical requirement is not only limited to its internal employees and clients but the general public. There is a relation between a business and members of the public who are not their clients. For instance, when a firm acts in an unethical way by emitting poisonous gasses, the effect of that gas will be felt by both the firms customers and non-customers. Business is directly linked to its clients or indirectly connected to non-clients. The more an organization venture into broader operations, the more it s ethical boundaries expand. Ethics defines the organizations customer base and employee turnover (Liao, 2010). A good number of workers will be willing to work for an organization that is ethical compared to that which is not. Similarly, an ethical firm will have a wider customer base compared to that which is not. The external environment plays a significant role in defining an organization;s ethics; a firm is an open entity that relates to the external world (Clements, 2010). It implies that a company interacts with various objects as it tries to meet its operations; a firm will buy raw materials from the external parties as well as sell their final products and services to the same entities.; For a firm to be successful, there is need to develop a peaceful symbiotic relationship with both is employees and external entities ((Johnson, 2016). A good relationship will facilitate a smooth flow and interaction of factors of production thus boosting return. Types Of Business Environment On the boundaries grounds, various settings are either affected directly or indirectly by the firms operations. To begin with, there is an internal environment that promotes the organizational ethical culture. However, as much as the internal environment promote the ethical business culture, they also directly get affected by its ethics (Clements, 2010). The internal environment is made up of individuals who work in that organization and the management. The organization has a greater influence to its internal environment. A business efficiently controls what happens within its jurisdiction. This situation represents that body that is under the management control; employees are governed and monitored by policies that are drafted by top management. The workers have a mandate to adhere to the policies requirements. The workers body are ambassadors of the organization to the external environment (Johnson, 2016). They create the image of the company thus there is the need for them to have an outstanding ethical culture. They are the face of the organization to the rest of the world. When an employee has unethical attributes, he will create a negative image of the institution. For instance, an employee who is arrogant or mishandles the clients is termed as unethical. In such a case, the customer will develop a negative attitude towards the organization. Immoral attributes of the employees will lead to a reduction in customer base thus leading to poor performance. On the other side, there is an external environment that the business has minimal or no control over it completely. The external environment includes the government policies, demography, economy, and competitive environment. The ethical aspect in this context is set by the government. The government puts policies in place to govern how business is conducted within the external environment. Some organizations and firms do not adhere to ethical requirements. For instance, some companies make a false advertisem ent, overprice their commodities and sell goods and services that do not meet legal standards. In such a case, the government has a legal constraint that shapes the ethics of such businesses. Firms that fail to adhere the legal restrictions faces legal measures. Government involvement in business helped create ethical entrepreneurial culture within some organizations. Ethical culture is a paramount attribute in any organization that is willing to thrive and expands its operations. Ethical Culture Analysis For PricewaterhouseCoopers Background information In this paper, I will defend the ethical culture of PricewaterhouseCoopers categorically. The firm is well known as PWC. In 1988, a merger between the Coopers Lybrand and Price waters company firm led to the formation of PWC. The two companies assumed one brand name and operated as a single entity. PWC is headquartered in the London United Kingdom. The company offers professional services the following services; auditing reports, consultation, tax advisory, actuarial, financial advisory and assurance. Among the four largest professional firms (KPMG, PWC, EY, and Deloitte), it is the second. PWC was ranked one of the worlds most prestigious accounting firm for seven consecutive years. By 2015 PWC had branches in 157 countries, 756 stations and over 223,000 employees. In their 2016 financial year, the firm had $35.9 billion revenue (www.pwc.com ). It is a global accounting company. Besides, it was ranked the fifth privately owned business in the United States by 2016. PWC is a corpora tion that has an extensive network across the globe. It is amazing how the firm successfully deployed human resources across the 157 countries. Besides, it is the company that has drawn more attention on how it managed to outdo most of its competitors who have been in the accounting industry for an extended period. The high number of personnel the organization has employed makes it an imperative firm in the labor industry. Many researchers have developed an interest in understanding how the business has been able to withstand operational challenges in foreign countries. The fact that the PWC got ranked as the top company to work for in North America is evident the firm has pleasing ethical culture. PWS has shown a stable, ethical culture. The firm has a huge customer base in the line of the professional advisory. Many prospective investors approach the company to source for professional advice on the type of business they intend to venture in. Besides, firms that have already ventured into business still seek professional guidance from PWC firm. Most of the firms seek professional advice from PWC so that they can reduce the excessive losses they make. PWC is branded as a savior company. Problem prevention For the last seven years, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) has gained global recognition as the most reputable accounting firm. Corporate fraud is, therefore, the biggest risk or problem that affects the business. Such lack of integrity in the workplace may cause severe damage to the company, including lower profits and permanently bruising the companys reputation. It is in this light that in 2007, PwC carried out an Economic Crime Survey and developed techniques to avoid and manage fraud, thus reducing the risk of the impact of fraud in organizations as discussed below. Board and audit committee supervision (PricewaterhouseCoopers Economic Crime Survey, 2007).The board is in charge of supervising and controlling the financial reporting done by the management. Audit committees review the power that the management has on activities such as financial reporting. The two parties should ensure that there are anti-fraud programs in place and that there is no override of controls in financial reporting. They must also ensure that professionals adhere to the principles of accounting. They should also schedule meetings with both internal and external auditors to discuss the risk of fraud. Training and procedures (PricewaterhouseCoopers Economic Crime Survey, 2007). There must be an effective control policy that is put in place to help prevent fraud. Such guidelines must be well-documented so that employees understand them fully. Furthermore, upon being hired, it is important to train employees on the dangers of dishonest behavior such as disobeying policy, suspicious reporting, corruption, and conflict of interest. PwC has established standards which who wish to continue working for the company must meet. Screening upon employment (PricewaterhouseCoopers Economic Crime Survey, 2007). Statistically, about 71.4% of fraud in a company is traced back to its employees. It is therefore important to properly screen potential employees to establish their levels of integrity. Carrying out background checks, detailed checks and employing a specialist to investigate the databases of the potential employee all help in the screening process. Interior fraud controls (PricewaterhouseCoopers Economic Crime Survey, 2007). To prevent purchasing and payroll fraud, a company should file copies of tender invitations. Fraud in sales and inventory is averted by distinguishing responsibilities in sales, inventory, accounting and the processes of bank reconciliation. An independent party should conduct regular bank reconciliation of cash and cheque to avoid theft in this sector. Ethical Beliefs and Culture A strong ethical culture is paramount to any auditing firm that wishes to maintain high levels of integrity and a good reputation. PwC has chosen the values of excellence, teamwork, and leadership as the basis of a strong ethical culture in all its branches worldwide (www.pwc.com ). Excellence. The company is set to fulfill its promises to its clients, and to provide quality beyond the expected through innovation, learning, and agility (www.pwc.com ). It encourages innovation in that employees are encouraged to come up with creative yet practical means of solving problems. The company takes pride in the fact that it is the largest and most renowned auditing firm globally. Thus, it ensures to put in place only the well-developed ideas, and successfully at that. Learning is another booster to attaining excellence at PwC. The company provides a continuous means of broadening the employees scope of knowledge and skills to satisfy clients better. Agility means that the company is sensitive to change and is swift to deal with any issues that arise from it. This factor has enabled PwC as a business to survive and to stay ahead of its competitors (www.pwc.com ). Teamwork. PwC is built on long-lasting relationships with its staff and customers. Mutual respect and sharing strengthen these relationships (www.pwc.com ). It is crucial that the company maintains long-term relationships with its clients and employees to ensure both employee and client loyalty. To PwC, the end results rely on how the people element of the company treats each other. Respect entails appreciating other peoples opinions, groups, and cultures. This aspect is essential because the company is based in 157 countries, with employees of more than 35 languages. The firm also encourages its employees to share resources, skills, and opportunity (www.pwc.com ). It also shares knowledge with its customers, which has led to continuous success in its operations. Leadership. With both clients and employees. The elements of courage, vision, and integrity have enabled PwC to motivate its staff and its clients. Courage requires grabbing the opportunity and having a positive attitude towards the responsibility that comes with the initiative. Anyone, at any level, can be a leader. Leaders should be able to speak their minds, be seen and air their suggestions boldly. Employees are encouraged to be creative. However, it is important that they learn to be accountable for their actions (www.pwc.com ). Vision entails perceiving what is beyond the expected. One must recognize the bigger picture. The company encourages its staff not only to be courageous but also to set achievable goals. In other words, think big. The virtue of integrity involves being a person who can be trusted by others. A professional must be honorable. This attribute translates to the entire community at PwC. The business is built on honesty and transparency as well as being accountable for its actions. As an auditing firm, employees must adhere to independence as well as objectivity, which are core in the daily activities of the business (www.pwc.com ). Ethical Drivers As an auditing firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers has the following ethical drivers (Satava Richards, 2006): Self-interest (Protagoras, et.al). At PwC, it is firmly held that the society would be a much better place if each pursued their interests without breaching the rights of other people. The ultimate moral responsibility of a company towards its employees is to ensure that they improve their skills, gain experience and grow at a personal level. Individuals are encouraged to pursue their interests so long as there is no bias or conflict of interest with company goals. Utilitarian benefits. This involves seeking the common good, such that decisions are made based on what is best for the net society. This ethical driver suggests that whether the goals are short-term or visionary, so long as they result to the betterment of the welfare of the majority, they are implemented. It is important to weigh every decision to determine its pros and cons and to shun those decisions which bring about greater harm than good to the society. Personal virtues. Integrity and courage play a vital role in developing personal attributes. These characteristics are also necessary for the auditing business to succeed. It is important that individuals set standards that dictate how to relate with other people. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. It is the right of any human being to receive proper treatment. Religious values. This calls upon individuals to have the virtues of kindness, tolerance, integrity and honesty. Workers must be compassionate towards each other and to their clients. Reciprocation of these virtues leads to unity within the corporate firm. The religious construct is considered a golden rule that guides the auditing industry. Government requirements. As a firm that has spread out to 157 countries, it is key to its survival that PwC observes government rules and restrictions in each of its host countries. Such national laws may include those guiding the interaction of the company with its surrounding community and the responsibility of the company towards society. Most governments employ a rule-based approach in issuing such legislation. Here, social responsibility plays a significant role. Governments are keen to observe companies, especially international private firms, to determine the benefits that such businesses will bring about to the immediate society and the nation at large. Universal guidelines. There are globally acceptable rules that govern the activities and conduct of auditing firms. Such guidelines aim to do away with selfishness and self-interest that create undue tension among homogenous industries. These principles apply to the community as a whole. To realize the common good, these rules and policies must intertwine and work together. Personal rights. This entails the rights and freedoms that are entitled to humanity. They protect people against any form of inhumane or illegal action that may be carried out against them. Nowadays, the rights of stakeholders are becoming more and more recognized although they were not initially formally deemed essential. Economic efficiency. The goal of any business is to minimize costs and maximize profits. Revenues must be compared against costs so as to implement decisions that will ensure achievement of maximum levels of output. Economic efficiency is necessary for the auditing industry to prosper because misrepresented or biased financial reporting causes great harm to society as a whole. Distributive justice. This implies that management must be careful not to implement decisions or activities that harm even the minimum number of people in the community. It is crucial to consider the disadvantaged before any decision is arrived to, to avoid further inconveniencing them. In auditing, financial misrepresentation may cause irreparable harm to society whether immediately or eventually. Contributing liberty. This ethical driver speaks against selfishness. Individuals must be careful to avoid activities which impeach on other peoples freedoms and rights. A person must follow legislation that defines such rights. It is the duty of an auditor to ensure the protection of the interests of the society in line with their rights and freedoms. Ethical Issues There are four major ethical problems that accountants and auditors at PricewaterhouseCoopers are bound to experience, just like any other accounting firm (Lister, et.al). Management pressure. Many auditing and accounting firms face the burden of high expectations to perform well. Such high hopes create stress and tension among accountants and auditors, who are in charge of formatting financial statements and making financial reports (Lister, et.al). Due to pressure to succeed, management may pressure these professionals to alter their statements about profits and losses, assets, and liabilities of the firm. Ethical professionals will maintain accurate financial reports of the enterprise and not cave into management demands. However, some who fear for their jobs or accept bribes will change financial records and overstate the success of the company. In the short term, this may benefit the company. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission may finally find out about such fraud, leading to failure of the business (Lister, et.al). Accountants morality. The Financial Accounting Standards Board requires accountants to blow the whistle on any form of discrepancy they encounter while carrying out their duties. However, the results of such reporting are devastating. Upon the notification of a violation, the government is required to intervene and review the financial records of the firm. Furthermore, once the press gets to hear of such a scandal, the companys incompetence will be made public. The reputation of the company will go down the drain, leading to entrepreneurial suicide (Lister, et.al). Needless to say, many of the employees of the firm will be laid off. Moreover, the companys management including executive officers will be prosecuted and either fined heavily or jailed. The ramifications of greed (Lister, et.al). The finance industry involves making a lot of decisions concerning money. When the professionals in this field are greedy, they will find ways around rules and regulations that guide their activities so as to make extra cash. Greed is a total disregard of professional ethics. An accountant is urged to be competent enough not to let greed overpower their moral and professional values. The vice of greed is an enemy to the business, and an accountant should not let it interfere with financial reporting. An accountant who is more concerned about making more money for themselves at a cost to his/her company is self-centered and is a burden to his/her firm. Giving in to greed results to violating the principles of accounting, and the SEC will have to intervene (Lister, et.al). Failure to report some financial records. The management may ask the accountants or auditors not to report certain financial figures on the balance sheet. Such information may be one that lowers the reputation of the company either in the eyes of the shareholders or the public (Lister, et.al). Many professionals may not hesitate to follow these directives since omission does not necessarily mean altering figures on the balance sheet. However, such oversight goes against the principle of integrity. A competent professional must be able to represent all given information truthfully, whether positive or negative (Lister, et.al). They must remain vigilant for the sake of ethics. PWC social performance Every organization has to put priorities on both the strategic plans and operation risks that come along while dealing with the general public and other agencies. Besides, the top managers must figure out how to build a stronger relationship with their clients and external environment. Also, the firm must consider the cost of allocating their resources in corporate social responsibilities. PWC has a comprehensive program for corporate social responsibility and stakeholders engagement team (PricewaterhouseCoopers Economic Crime Survey, 2007). The program is purposely suited to meet the clients requirements and satisfaction. To begin with, PWC has a helped other forms set their development programs and assisted them in the implementation process. PWC helps their prospective clients implement different lines of strategy in their management team. They have assisted other firms in managing risks and helped them retain a brand image for an extended period (Johnson, 2016). PWC has worked wi th their clients in promoting social ethics in their organization through environmental, safety and community management programs. Also, the firm has a stakeholder engagement program; it is not only accountable to the investment community and shareholders but also the employees, consumers, material distributors, and regulators who have an impact on the companys image. In such a case, engaging the stakeholders has enabled the firm gain competitive advantage. Besides, the consultant team and project management team at PWC has been helping the host countries in initiating and evaluating national and international projects (Johnson 2016). Also, they help the host country in interpreting and analyzing the international policy requirements in establishing projects. Furthermore, the project management team has been in the forefront helping the investors and governments in host states in strategic environmental protection programs. It is clear that PWC is much concerned with the performance . PWC Diversity and Citizenship The PWC is a multinational corporation which has many branches all over the globe. In such a case, it has its sub-headquarters in the many countries where it has extended its operations. Besides, the firm has diversified its operation in a variety of accounting services. The top management has devolved few of their top managers in the foreign countries. Most of the directors and executive officers are from the host countries. The role of the devolved managers to foreign countries is to assist the host countrys employee in cultivating and promoting PWC ethical culture. The PWC firms in foreign countries have an obligation to follow the policies and rules stipulated by the host states. They operate within the law requirements of that particular state. PWC just like any other firms in the host country adhere to tax policy, wage policy, pricing policy and environmental policies among others. Besides, the firm has been I the forefront of promoting the culture and practices of the people o f the host country. In a way, the company assumes the activities of the host countries and get integrated into its social practices. However, the firm being an international professional business, it has to meet the international requirements of operation regardless of the host countries it is operating from (Liao, 2010). In such a case, the strategic team in PWC Company has been able to evaluate and set an ethical culture that is universally accepted. Conclusion and recommendation. From the above analysis, its evident that PWC is a successful multinational firm. The success of PWC is derived from its accommodating ethical culture, corporate social responsibility and dedicated staff, PWC is one of the companies that have been adhering to the policy obligations of the host countries that has enabled them to succeed in their operations. It is one of the firms that is of great interest to many researchers since it has been in a position to outdo their competitor who has been in the auditing profession for a long time. The firms strategy of preventing problem occurrence and solving disputes in its many branches in case of phenomena is quite remarkable. PWC is one of the firms that have that has successfully built a good relationship with the prospective clients and the general public. The good relation has enabled the firm to carry its operations smoothly thus leading to its success. Its outstanding ethical culture has resulted in the increase in some clients to the firm. I would like to work at PWC firm. PWC is one of the few organizations that offers an ample working environment to their employees. Employees feel how important they are to an organization when they constantly get consulted and incorporated in decision-making (Liao, 2010). PWC is a firm that guarantees and individual career development. I would recommend working with PWC to anyone who is willing to grow his career. However, as much successful PWC is, there is a need for them to diversify their business. I would recommend the company to venture into another line of production preferably a different industry like clothing or mining activities. In such a case, the company will expand their customer base and boost its corporate image. Besides, diversification enables the business to meets operational risk in a case where one industry is facing a downfall. References Clements, P. J. (2010). Business ethics today: A review of timeless principles that apply to the financial industry. Corporate Finance Review. Johnson, C. E. (2016). Organizational ethics: A practical approach. Sage Publications. Liao, W. C. (2010). The relationship between ethics training and employee satisfaction: A mediator of corporate responsibility practices. The Journal of Human Resource and Adult Learning. Lister, Jonathan, et.al. Ethical issues facing the accounting profession. Small business; accounting and book keeping. PricewaterhouseCoopers Economic Crime Survey (2007). Fraud prevention techniques- Some easy-to-implement fraud prevention techniques. Fraud A guide to its prevention, detection and investigation. PricewaterhouseCoopers. Our Core Values. Retrieved from www.pwc.com. Satava, D., Caldwell, C., Richards, L. (2006). Ethics and the auditing culture: rethinking the foundation of accounting and auditing. Journal of Business Ethics.

Why psychopaths are really good at getting ahead

Why psychopaths are really good at getting ahead Have you ever wondered why it seems like so many people who make it to the top of the professional food chain and occupy positions of power at work have a similar set of characteristics? You know the type- it’s pretty common to use the following adjectives to describe them as they push ahead and take no prisoners along their inevitable drive toward career success: merciless, cold-blooded, ruthless, ambitious, the list goes on. The truth is, there’s a group of people that often possess these traits- psychopaths- and sometimes the volatile and unpredictable ways in which they behave works to their advantage and allows them to get ahead in our ultra-competitive work world.Why do workplace psychopaths seem to be successful so often? Do you need to be a psychopath in order to get ahead these days? Recently, CNBC investigated why psychopaths are so good at getting ahead. Let’s take a deeper look at this issue and try and shed some light on the â€Å"psychopath questio n.†What is a psychopath?According to CNBC, â€Å"Psychopathy is an inherited mental disorder, an illness that is the result of a deformity in the brain. Those who are born with psychopathy can be dangerous.  They are also often very successful in ascending to positions of power.  Usually, psychopaths are cunning and charming, have an over-sized sense of self-worth, and are pathological liars. They show an unwillingness to accept responsibility for their actions, as well as callousness and lack of empathy.†How psychopaths gain the upper handThe ability to carefully control one’s emotions, allowing for logical decision-making to take hold, while displaying a sheen of chameleon-like charm that helps win the favor of those around them- typical characteristics of a psychopath- can help an individual advance in their career, regardless of industry or field. Simply put, the ability to effectively manipulate others around them, and display a manic energy that comes a cross as high-energy enthusiasm, are traits that are admired and valued in most workplace settings.CNBC notes that â€Å"In an office environment, overly emotional individuals are often at a disadvantage because their judgment is clouded by a desire to protect those they care about. Inversely, lacking empathy, more often than not, will help you in an environment where you have to make decisions that create negative consequences by necessity for other people†¦emotional, empathetic people may struggle to make what are often chalked up to tough business decisions because of the ramifications those decisions can have on other people. Empathy can interfere with you doing your job quite a bit. And in the competitive workplace, empathy is discouraged because it may interfere with what you need to do for work†¦ It is very well known you should not be bringing your personal issues or your emotions to work.†Confidence is another key trait that separates those who are successf ul at work from those who stay in the shadows, under the radar, and typically on the lower rungs of the career ladder- and it’s also something that psychopaths possess in abundance. These individuals typically have an intense belief in their abilities, even to the point of grandiose magical thinking, and as long as it doesn’t completely dip into the realm of absurd fantasy it could impress colleagues and help them rise above the competition. According to CNBC, â€Å"other psychopathic traits that make for successful CEOs include a comfort with lying and a lack of fear of failure. The resulting bravado can translate as aggressive ambition to a corporate board†¦ Sometimes psychopaths’ thrill-seeking behavior and impulsivity are mistaken for high energy and enthusiasm, action orientation, and the ability to multitask. To the organization, these individuals’ irresponsibility may give the appearance of a risk-taking and entrepreneurial spirit.†Shou ld you change your personality to get ahead?So†¦ should we all aim to be psychopaths at work if we want to get ahead in our respective careers? In a word, no. Although it’s true that psychopaths do often present with characteristics that help them advance in their careers, true psychopaths also display a variety of unsavory behaviors that can have the opposite effect. Their coolness tends to veer towards cruelty, and they often possess an inability to effectively collaborate with peers and operate for the greater good, instead operating in a completely self-serving manner.CNBC notes that â€Å"psychopaths are not only able to make decisions without regard for other people, they are also driven by a desire to hurt their peers†¦ Adding to the threat of psychopaths is their ability to deceive those around them. The most disturbing part of the psychopathic condition is that it can be very hard to distinguish†¦ While psychopaths are successful, theirs is certainly not the kind of success others should try to emulate†¦ As they make it to the top, psychopaths may step over, trample on, or back-stab anyone in the way.†Clearly, psychopaths possess a wide array of characteristics and personality traits, some of which are beneficial to no one and can actually be dangerous to society, and some of which that can indeed be beneficial at work. Therefore, the relative success of a psychopath in the workplace depends on her or his ability to control the particularly deviant behaviors while allowing those alpha-like traits to shine. So, rather than seeking to become psychopaths ourselves, we should strive to identify and emulate the positive traits that psychopaths tend to possess that help them make it to the top while avoiding the destructive traits that make psychopaths dangerous to be around, which should serve to help each of us find tangible and lasting success in whatever career path we choose to pursue.

Germany short essays Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Germany short essays - Essay Example In an effort to enhance reformation, Martin put great emphasis on the unity of the African-American through participating in movements that are present which will assist in overlooking African-American necessity that were waiting to be buried. The work and life events of Martin Luther were stressed exclusively making the history taught in schools expressed in different ways. Martin was an inspirational speaker, and he travelled to several parts of the country motivating people to live life full of racial harmony. Martin had idealistic mind and this was seen in his speeches that were idealistically rational and positive regarding his views on different things. One key event in Martin Luther’s life is when he talked about a vision he had where he sees his children live a life where they live without being judged on the basis of race but by the character they display. Martin’s philosophies believed in having equality through hard work, non-violence with the whites, and str ong leadership. He went on to urge the Blacks to try and earn their rightful place as being equal to the whites through having self-respect and moral standards that are of high value. Frederick the Great Frederick was a Prussian king in the 18th century and one of his famous accomplishments was the elevation of Prussia from a smaller power on an equal footing with other states such as Bohemia and Saxony making them great states with a lot of power and politics, the state joined with others which include France, Russia, Austria, among Poland and Britain; Prussia later became a leading faction in 1870s when the unification of Germany took place. Fredrick was a notable general who was famous for various victories against other forces such as the war that took place during the War of Austrian Succession that took place in the 1740s and in 1760s when the seven years of war took place. Fredrick’s armies were disciplined and tactical; this made them be admired by people such as Clau sewitz and Napoleon. During the reign of Fredrick, he enabled diplomatic revolution which occurred during the Australian Succession War; the revolution marked the switch of traditional allegiances between nations that are great powers. The French fought many conflicts with the Austrian and the British leading to coalitions; Prussian power rose in the hands of Fredrick making Austrians ally with the French who also became nervous about the activities of Prussia. British later switched alliances from that with Austria to that of Prussia completing a diplomatic revolution and later the nature in which politics is conducted. Main Reason for anti-Semitism Anti-Semitism is considered unique among the world hatred when combined in four aspects that include confusion – under this aspect; there is little agreement on the reasons for people to hate the Jews, longevity has been in existence for a long period of time, universality has been everywhere in the world, and intensity which has often been expressed in a manner that is virulent manner. According to historians, the reason why people are anti-Semitic is because the Jews are either powerful, lazy, too separate, threat to racial purity through practices such as pacifistic, capitalistic or communists that are revolutionist. All these reasons have nothing to do with being a Jew; hence one may think we are a victim of bad luck by possessing the desire to have quality of being hated wherever we are in the world. Various states have participated in

Challenges in the Korean Protestants dealing with ancestor worship Term Paper

Challenges in the Korean Protestants dealing with ancestor worship - Term Paper Example The challenge faced by protestant Christians when dealing with ancestor worship can be attributed to the fact that there existed other religious beliefs that had helped propagate the practice in the Korean society over the years, especially traditional religions. Consequently, this essay provides a critical analysis of the challenges that Protestants have faced in their dealing with ancestor worship especially since they have always sought to protect the Christian doctrine from adopting any form of practice that would imply absorption of aspects of ancestor worship. The diverse nature of religion in both South and North Korea is exemplified by the study conducted by Johnson and Hickman, which indicate there are five and four types of religion with each claiming about 10 percent Korean population being their members (14). This paints a clear picture of the interaction between different religions among members of the Korean population. These figures represent the growth of region in Korea with Christianity also achieving huge success in the society. The growth in Christianity is significant especially when considering that Protestants make up the second largest group of worshippers being second to Buddhism, which was, introduced to the Koreans years earlier that Christianity. Protestant churches entered Korea in the 1800s and has since attracted millions of members with approximately 60 000 Protestant churches operating in the in the region in addition to having about 100 000 ministers and 12 000 overseas missions (Kim, Jung Han 132). Even with this development and continued growth of Christianity, ancestor worship has continued to be exercised within Korean society. Although the protestant doctrine does not support ancestor worship, and there are other factors outside Protestant Christianity that has contributed to the maintenance of this practice in the Korean society. To make an assessment of what has sustained the practice of

BreadTalk Group Limited Essay Example for Free

BreadTalk Group Limited Essay Bread is one of the most popular staple in the Asian food culture. In the years, BreadTalk has successfully expanded their influence and reputation to 16 countries with more than 500 bakeries all around the world. BreadTalk is known for their see thru kitchen concept which enables their chefs a platform to showcase the skills and capabilities. This also allows interaction between customers and employees. A comprehensive analysis of the business strategy of BreadTalk Group Limited for the Thailand market revealed that its strategic objectives are aligned to the company’s vision and mission statement: Vision Establish BreadTalk as the foremost international, trend-setting lifestyle bakery brand | Mission Leading a new lifestyle culture with new, innovative changes and creative differentiation to craft products with passion and vibrancy | Innovative improvement and design of their products increased awareness of the brand, BreadTalk, complimented with the use of locations with high human traffic are increasing the market share of its bakery arm within the Thailand market. Lessons drawn from the analysis have shown that BreadTalk is consistently seeking improvement and reviewing their strategies to stay abreast. Being in a country with cultural differences in food preferences, working attitudes and lifestyle, BreadTalk’s adaptation and globalization strategies has proven to be effective. Success is reflected in the confident future investment promise and processes in place to overcome their strategic implementation issues. Introduction BreadTalk is aggressively expanding globally and leaves footprints in China, Indonesia and Thailand. With Singapore and China markets dominating the overall revenue for the bakery arm, a review on the business strategy for the Thailand market carried out. Strategies and implementation issues are identified to increase the market share and revenue for BreadTalk Thailand using the rational / formal model. BreadTalk’s company history and background is attached in Appendix A. With a strategic analysis on the external and internal environments using models / theories like PESTEL, Porters’ 5 Forces, analysis of turbulences and internal strategic competitive advantage, useful strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats are identified in this report. Strategic implementation and implementation issues are discussed further. Successful implementations are useful lessons for review. Strategic Analysis External analysis: General environment PESTEL model Political/Legal Thailand has faced various political/government instabilities, such as the Thai coup dà ©tat in 2006, the elections for a new constitution in 2007, a political crisis in 2008, and crackdowns and protests which involved violence from 2009-2010. Although the ruling of the July 2011 elections belonged to the Pheu Thai Party, the political situation was still shaky. There was a conflict between the â€Å"red shirts† (supporters of current ruling Pheu Thai Party) and â€Å"yellow shirts† (oppositions of the Pheu Thai Party), resulting in continuous tensions. All the bloodshed also damaged the economy, sinking the already suffering consumer confidence even more. Besides this matter, Thailands also having issues with its neighboring country, Malaysia. Both countries relationships have soured greatly because of the Pattani separatists’ issue, which involved the struggle of independence by the ethnic Malays in Southern Thailand. These incidents have raised concerns among foreign investors and manufacturers regarding Thailands political stability. Thailand has strict regulations when it comes to working terms and conditions. A proper visa must be applied from a Royal Thai Embassy, with some countries needing to obtain an entry visa, which allows a stay of 15 days upon arrival in Thailand. However, Singapore is one of the countries that could stay for 30 days without an entry visa, but must obtain an entry stamp on their passports. The disadvantage of Thailands employment regulation is that it is time consuming, expensive and has a tedious amount of paperwork. Economic Following the constant tremors in the economy in 2008 and late 2011’s Euro crisis, Thailand has suffered duly in retrospect. With a staggering 41.06% debt of Thailand’s total GDP January this year and an additional 2 trillion baht for the beginning of next year (Good only at borrowing jibe haunts Pheu Thai Party, 2012), the country has much to recover from. The nation’s currency, Thai baht, has also taken a beating from the economic crisis in 2008 and 2011, falling from a high of 43.6 baht in 2002 to 29.44 baht per 1 USD today. However, it is to be noted that Thailand has come a long way since its third world country days back in the 90s. It has reduced its poverty by a third, from 27% in 1997 to 9.8% in 2002, and even has a health care policy which covers approximately 70% of its citizens (Data Thailand). Countries surrounding Thailand portray a mixed basket of economy statuses. With Myanmar slowly opening its doors to foreign investors, and Malaysia running a high risk of going into debt (Budget 2013 proof Malaysia falling into debt crisis as income slows, says MP, 2012), Thailand has to weigh its opportunities and costs with great consideration in order to maximize its potential in this crisis-stricken economy. Social/Cultural Buddhism is the main religion in Thailand (about 85%) and it greatly influences the Thais’ working attitude such as respect and politeness, forgiving and thoughtfulness. Respect is also reflected in the country’s monarchy system with military-dominated hierarchy present in both the society and workplace (Bi, 2012). In addition to their religious beliefs, modern Thais also display patience and hospitality at work emphasizing positive outlook. Thais prefer to work in a group, with ample time for completion in social environment; isolating them will lead to stress and discomfort. They have great respect for age and authority, preferring obedience and tolerance to conflict (Gross, 2001). Thai cooking is under the influence from the Chinese from southern China, Indians nearby and Malays from the south; the main dietary staple is rice. Due to the social nature and friendliness of Thai people, dishes are shared and enjoyed together. They love to eat in groups and eating alone is considered bad luck. Thais are known to take 7 meals a day; besides breakfast, lunch and dinner, they ‘snack’ a lot, savouring snacks along roadside or marketplaces anytime. Bread is becoming popular due its convenience. Baked products are expecting an annual growth of 5-6% (Jitpleecheep, 2012). Technology According to Internet World Stats, Thailand is ranked 9th in 2011 amongst countries in Asia, in terms of number of Internet users. Currently the population of Thailand is at 66.7 million; the country has an Internet penetration rate of approximately 31%, which amounts to 20.7 million in 2011 (Singapore Management University, 2012). There is a growing percentage of advertising spend with more large firms diverting a proportion of their advertising budgets to online advertising (Appendix B). Amongst the Asia-Pacific countries, businesses in Thailand are relatively active on social media channels (Kemp, 2012). As enterprises tap on social media for their business, they play on the personal touch factor that social media is able to achieve. Social media inspires and influence the behavior of Internet users, such as purchasing a product, by stimulating and attracting them to participate in online activities (New Media Trend Watch, 2012). This participation makes the purchasing process more personalized, hence increases sales. Thus, if BreadTalk intend to increase their sales in the FB industry in Thailand, they could make use of the developing social media platforms to aid in publicising the brand and its products (MVF GLOBAL, 2012). In this case, it would be more effective and they can reach to a wider audience too, bringing BreadTalk to greater heights. Environment The Thai Government has been focusing on the social and economic development for the past 35 years. Nevertheless, over the past decade Thailand has been increasingly threatened by the problems of industrial waste, hazardous wastes, natural resources degradation and water pollution (Thailand Info : Economy, 2008). Thailand has been suffering the threat of floods in the recent years. This has caused a dip in their production of rice-their staple and in their tourism industry. During the times of floods, there was a scarcity of food supplies. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand (MNRE), since 1992 the Government has made protecting the environment one of its top priorities. Thailand can be described as a tropical and humid country throughout the year. They claim to have only two seasons, the wet and dry. The summer extends from March to June with a temperature of 320 C to 360 C and monsoon extends from July to October with temperatures averaging around 290 C (The Global Climate Change Regime, 2012). This climate is suitable for BreadTalk. The process of fermentation and baking of various types of breads needs a tropical environment. Extreme weathers would change the uniformity of the ‘raising process’ for the bread and its fermentation process. External analysis: Industry Related Porter’s 5 forces Threat of new entrants (HIGH) The threat of new entrants is high as barriers of entry are low due to the little regulations from the government, the low capital outlay as compared to other industries, low Research and Development costs, and it is likely a highly profitable market. Also, because food has always been popular with people, and people are always looking for something new and fresh, many food joints have been opening, resulting in high amount of entry candidates. What attracts consumers is the variety of food being offered, therefore BreadTalk can consider widening their variety of breads, or by coming up with new flavors seasonally so as to stay competitive with the new entrants. Bargaining power of customers (HIGH) Customers have a generally strong bargaining power due to the high competition in the Food Beverage (FB) industry. Should customers not be satisfied with BreadTalk’s provision of goods and services, they have the power to boycott and purchase from a different provider, causing huge losses to the company. BreadTalk has to constantly update itself on customers’ tastes and preferences to better cater to their needs. It should also focus on hearing what consumers have to say, to be able to meet consumers’ expectations. Bargaining power of supplier (LOW) The overall bargaining power of suppliers for the FB industry is usually low due to the similar quality of the products. Bulk purchases lead to economies of scale, further bring down the prices of the supplies. Suppliers of these FB ingredients are in abundance; many in the market that lead to price competition. However, the bargaining power of the suppliers may escalate due to climatic influence that may cause shortages in the supplies; the supplier may then choose to work with companies who are willing to pay more. BreadTalk has its advantage over the suppliers, as the ingredients and packaging material are normal goods that are available from many suppliers. Threat of substitutes (HIGH) The Food and Beverage market has a big industry span and goes a long way back into history, therefore the risk of substitutes for food is actually very high (Aswe Travel, 2011). The food vendors must take note of mutual substitution. Congruently for bread-wise, there is no need for customers to consume them, especially in Thailand where its unique food culture provides various alternatives like rice and noodles that can fulfill the same purpose altogether (Aswe Travel, 2011). Thus, there is a certain level of risk for BreadTalk’s expansion and they need to tackle into the eating habits of the population, in order to win them over. Overall, there is a high threat of substitutes in Thailand for BreadTalk. Competitive rivalry – price war, elasticity within the bread industry (HIGH) The Food and Beverage industry normally experiences intense competition. The bakery market in Thailand is increasingly growing since bread can be favored as substitute for rice. In the meantime, competitors may want to get advantage of this growing trend. With growing urbanization in Thailand, now comprising of 33% of the total population have been observed to move away from traditional open air markets to retail stores (Exporter Guide THAILAND FOOD BEVERAGE Market Profile, 2011). The competitors in this industry for BreadTalk can be roughly categorized into Cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Coffee shops, in-store shops in restaurants and hotels and open-air wet/flea markets. Recently over the past 5 years, there is an emergence of regional cafà © come bakery concept (Exporter Guide THAILAND FOOD BEVERAGE Market Profile, 2011). The main competitors of BreadTalk in Thailand are Ka-nom, U-Bake, Pee Pee Bakery and The Human Bakery. An analysis of the Porters’ 5 Forces reflected that despite the overall competition for BreadTalk within the industry being strong, BreadTalk is still able to sustain and achieve above average profitability due to the following: Turbulences Complexity BreadTalk is positioned at the â€Å"Moderately Complex Environment† due to the wide range of products and competitive substitutes available but low interconnectedness among the products, markets and competitors; the bakery market in Thailand is relatively small (Appendix C). Dynamism FB industry in Thailand is generally low dynamism and is said to be in a â€Å"static environment’; the intensity and frequency of change is minimal and not drastic for this industry (Appendix D). Predictability Besides the normal business cycle, other influences such as natural disaster eg flood and drought caused the environment to be unpredictable. Despite this influence, tourism is still picking up (ranking 39 in 2009 and 42 in 2008 (Blanke Chiesa, 2009)) and growth of private investment is healthy (East Asia Pacific Economic Update Navigating Turbulence, Sustaining Growth, 2011). Internal analysis: BreadTalk Strategic Competitive Advantage Consistent with the company business strategy, BreadTalk continues to seek competitive advantages (Loh, 2011) based on their unique: BreadTalk is consistently pushing out new products and upgrading of retail space to enhance customers’ experience. Their innovative achievement is strongly supported from top management to front-liners, starting from strategic planning by the top management, support from staff and feedback from customers, high quality control baking process and release of new products frequently. SWOT Analysis With the above analysis on the external and internal environment, the following SWOT is identified and a summary attached in Appendix E: Strengths BreadTalk has the capacity of preparing the raw material (dough) for all the outlets ensuring strict quality control and a team of innovative designer taking care of new product design and customer experience. Its unique branding and concept attract customers giving them new snacking experience at convenient locations. Weaknesses There is limited sales and marketing effort in place for BreadTalk leading to low brand awareness and no loyal customer base. Allocating 20% adaptation to local food culture may not be sufficient for the Thailand. Opportunities Increase in tourism business boost the growth of FB sector and Thailand being ranked no. 13 out of 133 countries who are like foreign visitors, is adjusting to accommodate the foreign visitors’ likes and dislikes (Blanke Chiesa, 2009).

The accident Essay -- essays research papers

The Accident Every once and awhile I'll look back on my life and I'll laugh. Particularly at the times I spent with my best friend Nate and all the mischief we caused. I look back now and I think what the HELL were we doing? How did we not die? Have you ever sat down and had a conversation with a male teen between the ages of 14-17? I should've been locked away for that period of my life, I swear I was temporarily insane. I had NO concept of "consequences" or "repercussions". I did whatever, whenever. Unfortunately this little package of immaturity also came with other misleading thoughts such as a sense of invincibility, a total disregard for any authority, and taking pretty much EVERYTHING in my life for granted. What's also unfortunate, is that I had to learn all of these life lessons the hard way, and in one horrible night when I was just sixteen and a half years old. As I said, Nate and I are best friends, a little out of touch now, but best friends nonetheless. I guess it was the fact that we were both rebelling against the environment we were slowly growing up in that it made us so much alike. In a town where white-pride isn't just common, more like a way of life, we were just a couple of 12 year old kids looking for an escape. What's strange about growing up in a small town is that it encourages a sense of self-value, independence, and creativity which can be lost in large towns or cities. I mean, if you're not doing something creative in our town, what the hell else would you be doing? So, Nate and I developed a VERY similar sense of humor. A dry sense of humor that I assume no one else really appreciated because we didn't have all that many other friends. We entered middle school with hopes of new experiences and meeting new interesting people. This was when I met Jeff, my other life-long-hetero friend. Jeff and I played hockey together when we were eight. He quit, and I hadn't seen him since. Once I introduced him to Nate, we all became very close friends. Finally the day came that every 16 year old dreams about. Jeff and I got our licenses. We were both a little older than most people in our graduating class, so we were a couple of the lucky kids. And on top of that, we both had very nice cars. Mine a ... ... at Nate, he was clutching his chest from a deep cut he got from the seat belt, I was almost too ashamed to look directly at him, his face covered in blood. He looked at me and said â€Å"I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have egged you on, I’m sorry†. Before I could respond Jeff interjected, â€Å"Nah, I shouldn’t have taken you guys down here, this was a stupid idea, I’m an idiot. I‘m just so glad you guys aren‘t dead.† I couldn’t believe this, I screwed up, almost killing one of my best friends and here they were trying to make excuses for MY mistake. The car was totaled, we drove through a fence, hit a tree and then a mound of dirt which was what tossed the car on its side. The backseat had collapsed, everything in the trunk was now in the front of the car. Most of it hitting Nate on the way there. We stood there. Quiet. In shock from all the life lessons we had just learned in about 5 seconds. You could almost feel the childhood slip away. It was then that I realized how lucky I was to have such great friends, and how precious life really is, and how it can be altered, permanently, so quickly. I’ll think about this night every once in awhile. It reminds me how happy I should be to still be alive.

Ballroom Dance

Ballroom dance – refers to a set of  partner dances, which are enjoyed both  socially  and  competitively  around the world. Because of its  performance  and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television. – may refer, at its widest, to almost any type of social dancing as recreation. However, with the emergence of  dance sport  in modern times, the term has become narrower in scope. It usually refers to the International Standard and International Latin style dances. These styles were developed in England,  and are now regulated by the  World Dance Council  (WDC). In the United States, two additional variations are popular: American Smooth  and  American Rhythm. – The term ‘ballroom dancing' is derived from the word  ball, which in turn originates from the Latin word  ballare  which means ‘to dance' (a ballroom being a large room specially designed for such dances). In times past, ballroom dancing was  social dancing  for the privileged, leaving  folk dancing  for the lower classes. These boundaries have since become blurred, and it should be noted even in times long gone, many ballroom dances were really elevated folk dances. The definition of ballroom dance also depends on the era: balls have featured popular dances of the day such as the  Minuet,  Quadrille, Polonaise,  Polka,  Mazurka, and others, which are now considered to be  historical dances. Ballroom  Dances 1. Cha Cha The Cha Cha is a lively, flirtatious ballroom dance full of passion and energy. The classic â€Å"Cuban motion† gives the Cha Cha its unique style. Partners work together to synchronize each movement in perfect alignment. 2. Foxtrot The Foxtrot is a ballroom dance that is lots of fun and simple to learn†¦ n excellent dance for beginners. The Foxtrot is a smooth dance in which dancers make long, flowing movements across the floor. 3. Jive Jive is a ballroom dance style that originated in the United States from African-Americans. It is a lively form of Swing dance, and a variation of the Jitterbug. 4. Lindy Hop The Lindy Hop is the ballroom dance considered to be the father of all Swing dances. It is known for its unique, athletic style, and often contains aerial jumps, twists and flips. 5. Mambo he Mambo is one of the most sensual and emotional Latin American ballroom dances. Swaying hip movements, facial expressions, arm movements and holds all add to the sensuality of the dance. 6. Paso Doble The Paso Doble is one of the liveliest ballroom dances, originating in southern France. It is modeled after the sound, drama, and movement of the Spanish bullfight. 7. Quickstep The Quickstep is a quick version of the Foxtrot. It is a ballroom dance comprised of extremely quick stepping, syncopated feet rhythms, and runs of quick steps. The Quickstep is exciting to watch, but among the most difficult of all the ballroom dances. . Rumba The Rumba is considered by many to be the most romantic and sensual of all Latin ballroom dances. It is often referred to as the â€Å"Grandfather of the Latin dances. † 9. Samba Possibly the most popular of all Brazilian ballroom dances, the Samba is popular with young people as well as older generations. The Samba can be performed solo or with a partner. 10. Tango The Tango is one of the most fascinating of all ballroom danc es. This sensual ballroom dance originated in South America in the early twentieth century. 1. Viennese Waltz The Viennese Waltz is a quick rotating ballroom dance with a subtle rise and fall. It is considered by most to be one of the most difficult dances to learn. The simple and elegant rotational movement characterizes the Viennese Waltz. 12. Waltz The Waltz is one of the smoothest ballroom dances. It is a progressive dance marked by long, flowing movements, continuous turns, and â€Å"rise and fall. † The dance is so graceful and elegant, Waltz dancers appear to glide around the floor with almost no effort.

Three Major Concerns of a Driver

Three Major Concerns of a Driver When driving, there are many concerns drivers should be aware of. These concerns make driving safer for anyone on the road. The three major concerns I am going to talk about today are road conditions, following distance, and speed. These are only a few of the many concerns a driver should have when driving. Driving is not safe therfore you must take it as serious as possible. If a driver ignores these concerns there will be consequences whether it is by the law or a fatal collision. The first concern drivers should have while driving is for the conditon of the road. Road conditions change on a daily basis due to the weather and the time of day. A good driver knows that if it is raining or snowing outside the roads will be slick. Therfore they should drive not only slower but also more cautious. Another factor that effects the condition of the road is the kind of road. Rural roads tend to be more narrow and less maintained so you shoud look out for pot holes. Each kind of road should be treated differently because they all have different dangers. My second concern is it is important for a driver to have a safe distance between you and the next car, this is known as your following distance. This is a very important concern to have. I was effected by this about three months ago when i reared ended another driver due to not having anough distance between me and the next car. Surprisingly I am thankful for the accident because I am now a very safe and cautious driver. Your fallowing distance at twenty-five mph should be two to three car lengths between you and the car in front of you. Your following distance should increase one car length for every ten mph. A driver who fails to follow these facts will sooner or later end up in rear end accident just like I did, but the results could be much much worse. The last major concern a driver should have that I am going to talk about is speed. Speed is defined as the rate of change. When talking about automobiles speed is a very seriouse topic. As you increase your speed in any vehicle you have to be aware of the increase in change of things around you and need to be able to react faster to these changes. When speed is abused nothing good can come from it. Many accidents occur because of an individual who was speeding and or loses contoll due to speeding. In conclusion, drivers need to be constanty concerned of their surroundings. Speed road conditions and following distance are only three of the many concerns a driver should have. Driving is not a game or a right it is a very seriouse priviledg. Many people think if you wear your saftey belt and dont speed you'll be ok. The fact of the matter is that driving is NOT safe! Certain cars make driving safe but there are always unavoidable dangers while driving. If you are constantly awar of these dangers then you will be a much safer driver and have a lesser chance of being one of the unluckey people who get into any kind of accident.

Milestones in Space Exploration

Milestones in Space Exploration Even though space exploration has been a thing since the late 1950s, astronomers and astronauts continue to explore the firsts. For example, on February 6, 2018, Elon Musk and SpaceX launched the first Tesla into space. The company did this as part of the first test flight of its Falcon Heavy rocket.   Both SpaceX and rival company Blue Origins have been developing reusable rockets to lift people and payloads to space. Blue Origins made the first launch of a reusable on November 23, 2015. Since that time, reusables have proven themselves to be stalwart members of the launch inventory. In the not-too-distant future, other first-time space events will happen, ranging from missions to the Moon to missions to Mars.  Each time a mission flies, theres a first time for something. That was especially true back in the 1950s and 60s when the rush to the Moon was heating up between the United States and the then-Soviet Union. Ever since then, the space agencies of the world have been lofting people, animals, plants, and more into space. The First Canine Astronaut in Space Before people could go to space, space agencies tested animals. Monkeys, fish, and small animals were sent first. America had Ham the Chimp. Russia had the famous dog  Laika, the first canine astronaut. She was launched into space on the Sputnik 2 in 1957. She survived for a time in space. However, after a week, the air ran out and Laika died. The following year, as its orbit deteriorated, the craft left space and re-entered the Earths atmosphere and, without heat shields, burned up, along with Laikas body. The First Human in Space The flight of  Yuri Gagarin, a cosmonaut from the USSR, came as a complete surprise to the world, much to the pride and joy of the former Soviet Union. He was launched into space on April 12, 1961, aboard the Vostok 1. It was a short flight, only an hour and 45 minutes. During his single orbit of Earth,   Gagarin admired our planet and radioed home, It has a very beautiful sort of halo, a rainbow. The First American in Space Not to be outdone, the United States worked to get their astronaut into space. The first American to fly was Alan Shepard, and he took his ride aboard Mercury 3 on May 5, 1961. Unlike Gagarin, however, his craft did not achieve orbit. Instead, Shepard took a suborbital trip, rising to a height of 116 miles and traveling 303 miles down range before parachuting safely into the Atlantic Ocean. The First American to Orbit Earth NASA took its time with its manned space program, making baby steps along the way. For example, the first American to orbit Earth didnt fly until 1962. On February 20, the Friendship 7 capsule carried astronaut John Glenn around our planet three times on a five-hour space flight. He was the first American to orbit our planet and subsequently became the oldest person to fly in space when he roared to orbit aboard the space shuttle Discovery.   The First Womens Achievements in Space The early space programs were heavily male-oriented, and women were prevented from flying to space aboard U.S. missions until   1983. The honor of being the first woman to achieve orbit belongs to the Russian Valentina Tereshkova. She flew to space aboard Vostok  6  on June 16, 1963. Tereshkova was followed 19 years later by the second woman in space, aviator Svetlana Savitskaya, who blasted off to space aboard Soyuz T-7 in 1982. At the time of Sally Rides trip aboard the U.S. space shuttle Challenger on June 18, 1983, she was also the youngest American to go to space. In 1993, Commander Eileen Collins became the first woman to fly a mission as pilot aboard the space shuttle Discovery. The First African-Americans in Space It took a long time for space to begin to integrate. Just as women had to wait a while to fly, so did qualified black astronauts. On August 30, 1983, the space shuttle Challenger lifted off with Guion Guy Bluford  Jr., who became the first African-American in space. Nine years later, Dr.  Mae Jemison lifted off in the space shuttle Endeavour on September 12, 1992. She became the first African-American woman astronaut to fly. The First Space Walks Once people get to space, they have to perform a variety of tasks onboard their craft. For some missions, space-walking is important, so both the U.S. and Soviet Union set out to train their astronauts in working outside the capsules. Alexei Leonov, a Soviet cosmonaut, was the first person to step outside of his spacecraft while in space, on March 18, 1965. He spent 12 minutes floating as far as 17.5 feet from his Voskhod 2 craft, enjoying the first spacewalk ever. Ed White made a 21-minute EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity) during his Gemini 4 mission, becoming the first U.S. astronaut to float out the door of a spacecraft.   The First Human on the Moon Most people who were alive at the time remember where they were when they heard astronaut  Neil Armstrong  utter the famous words, Thats one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. He, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins flew to the Moon on the Apollo 11 mission. He was the first to step out onto the lunar surface, on July 20, 1969. His crewmate, Buzz Aldrin, was the second one. Buzz now boasts of the event by telling people, I was the second man on the moon, Neil before me.   Edited and updated by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

Special Feeding Adaptations of the Seahorse

Special Feeding Adaptations of the Seahorse The seahorse is one of 54 different species of fish in the marine genus Hippocampus- a word that comes from the Greek word for horse. Only a small handful of species are commonly seen in tropical and temperate waters of both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. They range in size from tiny, 1/2-inch fish to nearly 14 inches in length. Seahorses are one of the only fish that swim in an upright position  and are the slowest-swimming of all fishes. Seahorses are generally considered to be an evolved form of pipefish.   How Sea Horses Eat Because they swim so slowly, eating can be a challenge for the seahorse. Further complicating things is the fact that a seahorse has no stomach. It needs to eat almost constantly because food quickly passes straight through its digestive system. According to  The Seahorse Trust, an adult seahorse will eat 30 to 50 times per day, while baby  seahorses  eat 3,000 pieces of food per day. Seahorses do not have teeth; they suck in their food and swallow it whole. Thus their prey needs to be very small. Primarily, seahorses feed on plankton, small fish and small crustaceans, such as shrimp and copepods. To compensate for its lack of swimming speed, a seahorses neck is well adapted for catching prey, reports Scientific American. Seahorses ambush their prey by hovering silently nearby, attached to plants or corals and often camouflaged to blend in with their surroundings. Suddenly, the seahorse will tilt its head and slurp in its prey. This movement results in a distinctive sound. Unlike their relatives, the pipefish, seahorses can extend their heads forward, a process that is aided by their curving neck. Although they cant swim as well as pipefish, The seahorse has the ability to stealthily reach out and strike their prey. This means that they can wait for prey to pass by their perch, rather than actively pursuing them- a task that is difficult given their very slow speed. The hunt for prey is also aided by the seahorses eyes, which have evolved to move independently, allowing them an easier search for prey.   Seahorses as Aquarium Specimens What about captive seahorses? Seahorses are popular in the aquarium trade, and there is currently a movement to raise seahorses in captivity to protect the wild population. With coral reefs in danger, the native habitat of the seahorse is also challenged, leading to ethical concerns about harvesting them from the wild for the aquarium trade. Further, captive-bred seahorses seem to thrive better in aquariums than do capture  wild seahorses.   However, efforts to breed seahorses in captivity is somewhat complicated by the fact that young seahorses prefer live food that must be very small, given the tiny size of the young seahorses. While they are often fed frozen crustaceans, captive seahorses do better when feeding on live food. An article in the journal Aquaculture, suggests that live wild- or captive-raised copepods (tiny crustaceans)  and rotifers are a good food source that allows young seahorses to thrive in captivity.   References and Further Information: Bai, N. 2011. How the Seahorse Got Its Curves. Scientific American. Accessed August 29, 2013. Birch Aquarium. Secrets of the Seahorse. Accessed August 29, 2013. Project Seahorse. Why Seahorse? Essential Facts About Seahorses. Accessed August 29, 2013. Scales, H. 2009. Poseidons Steed: The Story of Seahorses, From Myth to Reality. Gotham Books. Souza-Santos, L.P. 2013. Prey Selection of Juvenile Seahorses. Aquaculture: 404-405:35-40. Accessed August 29, 2013.

Most Beautiful Day Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Most Beautiful Day - Personal Statement Example My friend who was driving at this time has become quieter and the drive was going really smooth. We pulled off the road to re-fuel and after we left the gas station got a "low battery" sign on the dashboard light up. The vehicle also warned that we turn off all the electronics as soon as possible. We decided to do it right away only to be warned again with a "turn engine off immediately" message on the vehicle's computer. It was really dark outside at that point and we were scared some car would think our car is moving and would hit it, and we would be hit as well. By the time we crossed the highway to stop the car on the side, and run outside the car baffled and confused there was already heavy smoke coming from the car. We ran away from the car fearing it was about to explode at anytime. We only stopped at a road construction site where we could be safe from all the trucks and cars going at 100/150 km/h just 5 meters from us. We did not know what to do or exactly where we were. Since we had a French cell phone we could not call SOS in Italy. Survival time on a highway is estimated to be about 12 minutes, and we had been there for 40 minutes when finally we saw someone to come noticed us and slowed down. We arrived in Geneva at 2 am (had left Monaco at 5pm).