Fiji Geography Information

Fiji Geography Information Population: 944,720 (July 2009 estimate)Capital: SuvaArea: 7,055 square miles (18,274 sq km)Coastline: 702 miles (1,129 km)Highest Point: Mount Tomanivi at 4,344 feet (1,324 m)Fiji, officially called the Republic of the Fiji Islands, is an island group located in Oceania between Hawaii and New Zealand. Fiji is made up of 332 islands and only 110 are inhabited. Fiji is one of the most developed Pacific Islands and has a strong economy based on mineral extraction and agriculture. Fiji is also a popular tourist destination because of its tropical landscape and it is fairly easy to get to from the western United States and Australia. Fijis History Fiji was first settled about 3,500 years ago by Melanesian and Polynesian settlers. Europeans did not arrive on the islands until the 19th century but upon their arrival, many wars broke out between the various native groups on the islands. After one such war in 1874, a Fijian tribal chief named Cakobau ceded the islands to the British which officially began British colonialism in Fiji. Under British colonialism, Fiji experienced the growth of plantation agriculture. Native Fijian traditions were also for the most part maintained. During World War II soldiers from Fiji joined the British and the Allies in battles at the Solomon Islands.On October 10, 1970, Fiji officially became independent. Following its independence, there were hostilities around how Fiji would be governed and in 1987 a military coup took place to prevent an Indian-led political party from taking power. Shortly thereafter, there were ethnic hostilities in the country and stability was not retained until the 1990s.In 1998, Fiji adopted a new constitution that specified that its government would be run by a multiracial cabinet and in 1999, Mahendra Chaudhry, Fijis first Indian prime minister took office. Ethnic hostilities continued, however, and in 2000 armed soldiers staged another governmental coup which eventually caused an election in 2001. In September of that year, Laisenia Qarase was sworn a s Prime Minister with a cabinet of ethnic Fijians. In 2003 however, Qarases government was declared unconstitutional and there was an attempt to once again install a multiethnic cabinet. In December of 2006, Qarase was removed from office and Jona Senilagakali was appointed as the interim prime minister. In 2007, Frank Bainimarama became prime minister after Senilagakali resigned and he brought more military power into Fiji and refused democratic elections in 2009.In September 2009, Fiji was removed from the Commonwealth of Nations because this act failed to put the country on track to forming a democracy. Government of Fiji Today Fiji is considered a republic with a chief of state and head of government. It also has a bicameral Parliament that is made up of a 32-seat Senate and a 71-seat House of Representatives. 23 of the House seats are reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 for ethnic Indians and three for other ethnic groups. Fiji also has a judicial branch that is comprised of a Supreme Court, a Court of Appeal, a High Court, and Magistrates Courts. Economica and Land Use In Fiji Fiji has one of the strongest economies of any Pacific island nation because it is rich in natural resources and is a popular tourist destination. Some of Fijis resources include forest, mineral and fish resources. Industry in Fiji is largely based on tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver and lumber. In addition, agriculture is a large part of Fijis economy and its chief agricultural products are sugarcane, coconuts, cassava, rice, sweet potatoes, bananas, cattle, pigs, horses, goats, and fish. Geography and Climate of Fiji The country of Fiji is spread across 332 islands in the South Pacific Ocean and is located closest to Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. Much of Fijis terrain is varied and its islands consist mainly of small beaches and mountains with a volcanic history. The two largest islands that are a part of Fiji are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.Fijis climate is considered tropical marine and therefore has a mild climate. It does have some slight seasonal variations and tropical cyclones are common and typically occur in the region between November and January. On March 15, 2010, a large cyclone struck Fijis northern islands. More Facts About Fiji Fijis official languages are English, Fijian, and HindiThe literacy rate in Fiji is 93%Ethnic Fijians make up 57% of Fijis population while Indo-Fijians make up 37% References Central Intelligence Agency. (2010, March 4). CIA - the World Factbook - Fiji. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fj.htmlInfoplease. (n.d.). Fiji: History, Geography, Government, Culture -Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/country/fiji.htmlUnited States Department of State. (2009, December). Fiji (12/09). Retrieved from: state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1834.htm

Clatonia Joaquin Dorticus Improves Photo Developing

Clatonia Joaquin Dorticus Improves Photo Developing Clatonia Joaquin Dorticus was born in Cuba in 1863 but made his home in   Newton, New Jersey. Little is known of his personal life, but he left an enduring legacy in innovations in developing photographic prints. He may or may not have been of Afro-Cuban descent. Photographic Print Inventions by Clatonia Joaquin Dorticus Dorticus invented an improved photographic print and negative wash machine. During the process of developing a photographic print or negative, the product is soaked in several chemical baths. The print wash neutralizes the chemicals in each bath process, so that the time the chemicals effect a print can be exactly controlled. Dorticus believed his method would eliminate over washing that could soften the photograph too much. The design would prevent the prints sticking to the side of the tank. His design saved water with an automatic register and automatic water shutoff. Using a removable false bottom on the washer and protected the prints and negatives from leftover chemicals and sediments in the tank. He filed for this patent on June 7, 1893. It is cited by examiners in five more patents for photographic film and print washers filed over the next 100 years. Dorticus also invented an improved machine for embossing photographs. His machine was designed to both/either mount or emboss a photographic print. Embossing is a method or raising parts of a photograph for a relief or 3D look. His machine had a bed plate, a die, and a pressure bar and bearings. He filed for this patent on July 12, 1894. It was referenced by two other patents in the 1950s. The patents for these two inventions were published only days apart in the spring of 1895, although they were filed about a year apart. List of Patents Issued to Clatonia Joaquin Dorticus Clatonia Joaquin Dorticuss other inventions included an applicator for applying color liquid dyes to the soles and heels of  shoes,  and a hose leak stop. #535,820, 3/19/1895, Device for applying coloring liquids to sides of soles or heels of shoes#537,442, 4/16/1895, Machine for embossing photographs#537,968, 4/23/1895, Photographic print washer#629,315, 7/18/1899, Hose leak stop Life of Clatonia Joaquin Dorticus Clatonia Joaquin Dorticus was born in Cuba in 1863. Sources say his  father was from Spain and his mother was born in Cuba.  The date at which he came to the United States is not known, but he was residing in Newton, New Jersey when he made several patent applications. He may also have gone by the first name of Charles rather than the uncommon Clatonia. He was married to Mary Fredenburgh and they had two children together. He is often noted on lists of   black American inventors  although he was listed in the 1895 New Jersey census as a white male. He may have been of Afro-Cuban descent with a light complexion. He died in 1903 at only 39 years of age. Not much else is known, and many short biographies note this. Learn more about the invention of photography and photo developing.

Retail Stategy (6) Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Retail Stategy (6) - Assignment Example With the help of continuously tracking and monitoring the environment for changes, organizations can identify several threats and opportunities and can take steps accordingly. This in turn allows the organizations to create a competitive edge over other competitors in the industry (Witcher & Chau, 2010). There are several methods and techniques for conducting audit of the internal and external environment of the organization (Witcher & Chau, 2010). Technology has made it more easier for the organizations to keep an eye on important environmental factors. With the help of properly implemented information systems and other technological devices one can identify important patterns and trends. Along with this, extensive market research also facilitates in the process of identifying and analyzing the changes in the marketplace (Witcher & Chau, 2010). With reference to the retailing business and retail management, it is highly essential for the retail organization to keep a track of the changing needs and preferences of the customers. This allows the retail organization to formulate strategies in accordance with the requirements of the customers (Berman & Evans, 2010). For this purpose the retail organization can link the data generated through RFID and other technological tools with the information systems in order to analyze the demands of the products (Berman & Evans, 2010). In this way, the organization will get an idea about the needs and preferences of the customers. Also, top management of the organization should conduct regular mystery shopping analysis in different retail outlets. This will also enable them to collect significant information and identify different changes in the marketplace. All this data should be stored in the database and should be available for the research analysts to identify important trends. This data will be helpful in identifying important patters like overall sales of a particular

Why do some survivors of domestic abuse maintain a relationship with Essay

Why do some survivors of domestic abuse maintain a relationship with their abusive partner - Essay Example It results in acute medical conditions such as multiple injuries to the face, head, neck, breast, or abdomen, and in chronic conditions such as headaches, abdominal pain, pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction (Campbell, 2002; Ellsberg, 1997; Gelles & Straus (1998) R.J. Gelles and M.A. Straus, The medical and psychological costs of family violence. In: M.A. Straus and R.J. Gelles, Editors, Physical violence in American families—Risk factors and adaptations to violence in 8145 families, Transaction Publishers, New Brumswick [USA] & London [UK] (1998), pp. 425–430.Gelles & Straus, 1998; Goodman, Koss, & Russo, 1993; Karol, Micka, & Kuskowski, 1992; Martin & Younger-lewis, 1997; Nduna & Goodyear, 1997). Intimate partner violence is also associated with lowered self-esteem and lowered self-perception of health by the victims (Amoakohene, 2004; Baker, 1997; Ellsberg, Caldera, Herrera, Winkvist, & Kullgren, 1999; McCauley et al., 1995; Skupien, 1998). Partner abuse has serious reproductive health consequences, including inability to use a contraceptive method at all or consistently, unwanted pregnancy, and increased levels of sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS. Even the period of pregnancy is not protective (Blaney, 1998; Diop-Sidibà ©, 2001; Gazmararian et al., 2000; Jejeebhoy, 1998; Maman, 2000; Letourneau, Holmes, & Chasedunn-Roark, 1999; Martin et al., 1999; Parsons, Goodwin, & Petersen, 2000; Rickert, Wiemann, Harrykissoon, Berenson, & Kolb, 2002; Sharps & Campbell, 1998). Of course the most extreme physical consequences of this type of violence are death of the victim, by suicide or homicide, and homicide against the perpetrator (Breiting et al, 1989; Wilson & Daly, 1994). Although the associations of IPV and detrimental health outcomes have been well established in research from industrialized countries, they have seldom been studied in developing countries. Similarly, despite the fact that IPV against men is kn own to occur in the USA,

The Meaning of Life Essay Example for Free

The Meaning of Life Essay Everyone wonders about the meaning and purpose of life. What is our origin: evolution or creation? Should we seek material wealth, pleasure, and education, or are we here to serve and honor God? Will we be judged for our lives and face eternal destinies in heaven or hell? Please consider the answers that can be found only in the Bible. Introduction: What is the meaning of life? Without doubt, this is one of the most challenging, and yet one of the most fundamental, questions the mind can consider. People throughout history have pondered the purpose of life. Philosophers spin theories. Poets write songs. Young people drop out of society to find out what its all about. Older people may remain within the establishment, but they still wonder. Obviously life is real. No one can deny that the world exists and people exist. You live, eat, sleep, breathe, and move. But do you understand why you exist? Please consider with me the challenging question of life. What is it really all about? To answer this question, we will look at three specific questions. Question #1: Where Did You Come From? How do you explain the origin of the human race? Since we are alive, it is natural to wonder where we came from. One reason many people are confused about the meaning of life is that they do not understand the origin of life. To know why we are here, we must know where we came from. Many People Hold Mistaken Ideas about the Origin of Life. A commonly accepted explanation for the origin of life is organic evolution the hypothesis that man evolved from lower animals, which in turn came from simpler life forms, all the way back to the first microscopic life, which sprang accidentally from non-living matter. But this theory has major problems. Where did the first living thing come from? What caused life to begin where there had never been life before? Science has repeatedly demonstrated that life comes only from life. This is a law of science called the Law of Biogenesis. The opposite of this law would be spontaneous generation life beginning spontaneously from non-living matter. But science has repeatedly proved this cannot happen. So every living thing must come from a previous living thing. You received life from your parents, who in turn received it from their parents, etc. The same is true for all living things. But evolution requires that, when you go back far enough, non-living matter somehow came to life by chance where there was no life before. Evolution requires spontaneous generation in complete violation of scientific evidence. So evolution cannot explain even the origin of the very first form of life. Where is the evidence that all modern kinds of living things came from an original kind? Living things can adapt to their environment, but where is the proof they can develop into entirely different kinds of organisms such that all kinds came from one original kind? Years of human experience and scientific experimentation confirm that living things reproduce after their own kind. The offspring of a fish is another fish, not a snake, bird, or man. Scientists have searched for years for the missing links fossils of organisms that were halfway between the kinds of plants or animals we have now. Millions of fossils have been found around the world. If evolution is true, there should be thousands of fossils of missing links, but there is no evidence of these remains anywhere. Why not? Why is man so unique from animals? If man evolved from animals and is really an animal but just slightly more complex, why do we have characteristics so vastly different from animals? Why do people appreciate beauty in art, music, and poetry? Do animals create new paintings, sculptures, symphonies, and books of poetry that they and other animals can enjoy? Why do men have a conscience and a sense of morals? Why do we feel guilty when we have done wrong, even when we have not been caught or punished? Do animals naturally possess these spiritual qualities? Why do only people wonder about such issues as where we came from? Do animals debate even such issues as creation vs. evolution? Why do we possess rational thought so much higher than animals? We can find minute variations in degrees of intelligence among animals, but there is a vast gulf between any animal and man. Men build machines and tools to work for us, train animals, use fire, perform mathematic and scientific calculations, read and write, and pass our knowledge on to others. If we developed from the animals, why are there no animals that possess these characteristics almost as much as we do? If we develop from the animals, why are we so different from them? Evolution is not an adequate explanation. Consider the Bible Explanation for the Origin of Life. Genesis 1:11,12,21-28. All kinds of life were originally created by God in six days. God is an eternal, living, all-wise, all-powerful Creator (cf. Exodus 20:11; Hebrews 4:4). Instead of life coming from non-living matter, life came from life the eternally living God. Living things reproduce after their own kind, because God created them that way. And man is unlike the animals, because he is in the image of God. We did not evolve from animals, but we share Gods nature. Acts 17:24,25,28 The world and everything in it were made by God. He is the source of life and gives all the blessings that are necessary to life. Here is an explanation for the origin of life that fits what we see around us, fits the nature of man as compared to animals, and we will see that it provides a satisfying explanation for the meaning to life. There is sufficient evidence to compel any honest person to believe God exists and the Bible is His word. We do not have time here to examine all the evidence, but we encourage those who have doubts to investigate it. We simply observe that the Bible explanation makes far more sense than any other alternative, and that those who do not accept the Bible really cannot satisfactorily explain their own existence! If you would like to study evidence for the inspiration of Scripture or for creation vs. evolution, please see the links at the end of this study. Question #2: Why Are You Here? Do you really understand why you exist? Surely this is a fundamental question that everyone wants answered. Without meaningful goals, life is senseless and empty. Lack of purpose leads to unhappiness and even mental disorders. People need a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment in life. Many People Are Mistaken about the Purpose of Life. This is one consequence of evolution. If organic evolution is true, then there is no purpose in life. Life is an accident, and people search in vain for any meaning to it. So, many conclude that there is no higher purpose than to make life enjoyable for themselves and others. Some pursue riches and material possessions. They believe material things will make life happy and pleasant. But then they always want more: a bigger house, newer car, nicer clothes and furniture, etc. They are never satisfied. All people need some material goods, but is this the highest goal of life? Some pursue pleasure: entertainment, recreation, travel, etc. Their goal in life is fun, fun, fun. Wine, women, and song (or drugs, alcohol, and free love). Be a party animal. Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. This philosophy is emphasized by modern entertainment. It is the beer-commercial mentality: You only go around once, so reach for all the gusto you can. It doesnt get any better than this! One of them even names its beer High Life. But does life really not have any better purpose than to booze it up? Many modern entertainers have achieved the high life to the ultimate, but are they happy? If so, why are so many of them plagued by drug and alcohol addiction, divorce, mental breakdowns, early deaths, and suicide? Is that really a satisfying life? Some pursue education. They want to accumulate knowledge and worldly wisdom. Like the Athenians, they spend their time in nothing else than to hear or tell some new thing. In all these areas, there may be some wholesome activities that may have some benefit. But is there really no higher goal in life than these? Whatever benefits they activities provide are temporary and incomplete at best. No matter how much you have, you always want more. In fact, modern Americans have achieved these goals to a degree beyond the imagination of most people of the world and of history. We have gadgets and toys, houses and lands, college degrees, and every kind of entertainment imaginable. But do you see evidence that Americans in general are truly satisfied with life? Society is filled with crime, broken relationships, mental illness, addiction, and unhappiness. Politicians profess to see crises on every hand. Many people in the world never achieve these goals. And those who do achieve them are still looking for the purpose of life. There must be something more. The Bible Teaches the True Purpose of Life Ecclesiastes 2:1-11; 12:13,14. The author experienced every enjoyment of life that some people pursue: wealth, pleasure, and education as great as anyone who ever lived. Did it satisfy? What was his conclusion? It was all vanity and vexation of spirit (2:11). The earthly pursuits that most people emphasize simply do not satisfy in the end. What is the real purpose of life? Fear God and keep His commands (12:13). God created man, because He had a purpose for us to accomplish. And He designed us so that, unless we fulfill that purpose, we have no real sense of accomplishment. Instead we create problems for ourselves. What would happen if you tried to bake lasagna in the clothes dryer? What if you tried to run your car on Jell-O instead of gasoline? What if you tried to eat with a shovel and pitchfork instead of spoon and fork? What if you tried to mow your lawn with fingernail clippers? Problems often result when things are created for one purpose, but we try to use them for a completely different purpose. Likewise, our lives are not satisfactory when we do not accomplish the purpose we were created for. Matthew 6:19-21,24,33 Our main concern in life must be to work in Gods kingdom and have a right relationship with Him. Other concerns may have some value but are far less important. Note v24. You can have only one master. You cannot put two things in first place in your life. God requires that serving Him must be the most important thing in life to us. Each of us must make a choice. Either God will be first, or something else will be first. Matthew 22:36-39 The most important work God intends for us to accomplish life is to love God and love our fellowman. John 14:15 But love for God requires us to obey Him (1 John 5:2,3). 1 Corinthians 14:37 Gods commands are revealed in the Bible. Lasting fulfillment in life comes only from obeying Gods word and thereby serving God and man. We will not discuss here all that is involved in serving God, but we simply emphasize the importance of understanding our purpose in life. Until you understand the teaching of the Bible, you do not really understand the purpose of life. (See also 1 Timothy 6:6-10; Luke 12:15-21. ) III. Question #3: Where Are You Going? Do you understand what comes after death? You may or may not feel that your life on earth is secure, but what happens when you die? What will your destiny be when life is over? Many People Are Confused or Unsure about What Comes after Death. We can be certain that death is coming. We may not like it, but death is a fact of life. * Sometimes people contract cancer or heart disease that is diagnosed as terminal. But, Life is a terminal disease. No one stays here permanently. * Criminals are sometimes given a death sentence for their crimes. But we all live under a death sentence! * In college a hippie type roomed in the same house I did. He subscribed to Time magazine, and one day when the mail came we kidded him saying, Your Time has come! He became upset. But sooner or later, for every one of us, Your time will come. Death is uncertain only in that we do not know when or how it will come. But there can be no doubt that it will come. Death is sad and fearful for many because they do not know what lies beyond. Or worse yet, they do know and are not ready to face it! Sooner or later, we all must face death. What then? Science does not even try to answer this question! Philosophers or religious leaders sometimes speculate that we cease to exist at death or that we will be reincarnated. But they have no proof. Here is another major question of life for which, apart from the Bible, you cannot know the real answer. The Bible Tells Us What Follows Death. Hebrews 9:27 It is appointed to man once to die, then comes the judgment. Jesus may come before we die; but if we die first, we will be raised from the dead when He returns. Either way, we will face God and be judged for our lives, good or bad. Someday, God will hold every one of us accountable for whether or not we have accomplished the purpose for which He created us. [John 5:28,29; Ecclesiastes 12:14; 2 Corinthians 5:10] Matthew 25:31-46 At. judgment, the righteous will inherit the kingdom prepared for them by God (v34). This is eternal life (v46). The wicked will go into eternal fire (v41). This is eternal punishment (v46). Romans 2:6-11 What determines the reward we receive? Our works. We receive wrath if we work evil and do not obey truth. We receive eternal life if we continue to work good. Our eternal destiny depends on whether or not we accomplish our Makers purpose! You may ask, How do you know we dont cease to exist after death? How do you know we wont be reincarnated? How do you know we will be raised and judged? Acts 17:30,31 We can know what comes after death because Someone has already died and come back to tell us what comes after death. In fact, He will be the One to judge our lives! [1 Cor. chap. 15] The resurrection of Jesus, the miracles of the Bible, and the fulfilled prophecy of Scripture are the proofs that the Bible is from God. If the Bible is from God, then we can be sure it tells us the origin and purpose of life and our destiny after life. Conclusion Since you will be judged for whether or not you have accomplished your Makers purpose, please consider further: How can you receive eternal life? Romans 3:23 The problem we all have is that at times we have failed to do the Creators will. We are all guilty of sin (1 John 1:8,10). What can be done about that? The good news is that Jesus came and died to forgive your sins (Romans 5:6-10; 6:23; John 3:16). To receive this forgiveness, you must be willing to live the rest of your life in His service Repent. Acts 2:28; 22:16 If you come to Christ believing in Him, confessing Him, and being baptized, He will forgive you and make you a new creature so you can have eternal life (Romans 6:3,4; Mark 16:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 15:58). Why continue life without investigating Gods way for your life? Suppose you are about to buy a house, but a friend promises you that he knows that house and it is in terrible shape in ways that are not obvious. Suppose he assures you that you are about to pay thousands of dollars more than the house was worth. Would you ignore the friends advice, or would you investigate? In a similar way, we are advising you in love that living life apart from obedience to God may seem pleasurable and attractive, but in the end it will lead to catastrophe. Surely you need to investigate before it is too late! Someday you will wish you had lived your life for God. If you are not living it for Him now, we urge you to find out what His will requires of you. If you already know, we urge you to obey while you have opportunity. The Bible has the answer to the most important questions of life. There is no need to go through life wondering what it is all about. Why not find out and begin to live according to the purpose for which you were made? Note: If you would like to study further about life after death, eternal destinies or other related Bible topics, we have a number of other study materials on our web site that should interest you.

The faces of the Goddess :: English Literature

The faces of the Goddess Throughout history women have empowered themselves by taking on many different titles and roles. This can be seen in the two allegorical fantasy novels The Mists of Avalon and Forest house, both written by Marion Zimmer Bradley. In both novels we see the female protagonists take on many different roles as they move throughout the different stages of their lives. In the novels it is believed that the Goddess shows herself in every woman. The stages and roles held by the two priestesses, Morgaine and Eilan, represent the different forms the Goddess takes. Morgaine shows the Goddess within her when she acts as the Maiden or Virgin huntress, the Mother of all men and as the Old Death-crone. These forms of the Goddess show themselves in Eilan as the Maiden, the loving Mother and the Lady of Ravens or Death-crone. Both Morgaine's and Eilan's actions throughout the novels show that they represent the three faces of the Goddess: the Virgin Maiden, the lover of men and gods; the Mother, life-giver and caretaker of men; and the Old Death-crone, killer of men. To begin, Morgaine represents the Virgin Maiden, the lover of the God and Summer-king. This is shown when Morgaine is thinking to herself about her past while weaving a spell to kill Avalloch. She is planning to set her lover Accolon on the throne in the place of Avalloch after the king Uriens dies. Morgaine speaks in her mind: Years ago she had been the Virgin Huntress, blessing the Horned One and sending him forth to run with the deer and to conquer or die as the Goddess might decree. He had come back to her... now she was no longer that Virgin, holding all the power of the Huntress. (The Mists of Avalon 671) These lines show that Morgaine had once taken the form of the Virgin Goddess who gives herself to the King Stag. She did the duty of the Maiden Goddess while she was young and a physical maiden by setting Arthur the Stag-God on his throne. This is important because she feels now that she must set the God on his throne again but this time in the form of Accolon. Morgaine worries though because she feels she no longer has the power of the Maiden Huntress to do so. This shows that Morgaine doubts that the Goddess and all her selves are within her. This occurs despite the fact that she had assumed the position of Maiden before. Morgaine is still unlearned in the ways of the Goddess and like the Maiden, she must set out on a spiritual journey toward

Being Single or Being Married Essay

There are many differences between life as a single person and life as a part of a married couple. some of these differences are obvious, while others are more subtle. The key to make the dicision is the answer of the following question: Do you prefer life of going home to an empty house and a cold bed alone, but which seems easier; or do you prefer life of coming home with considerate family and warm atmosphere, but which seems more complicated? Sometimes, the soceity favors marriages. Because in traditional opinions, a marriage adds happinesses and fulfilments to one’s life. A reseaches also shows that married people are more likely than those who are not married to be very happy: forty-three percent of people who say they are very happy they are married, versus twenty-four percent of unmarried people saying they are very happy[1]. What is more, in a marriage, there is always someone to talk to or listen to you. It is good to have someone there to have a conversation, to bounce idea of or to have a witty exchange of remarks. The companionship between the couple also offer supports and can be particularly important at time of trouble and stress. Partners of a marriage which lasts long are usually assured a certain basic level of emotional sustence. Marriages also result in consistent expression of sexual desire for one’s spouse through the life course. People who are married reported the highest levels of well-being, regardless of whether they were happily married or not. â€Å"Even when controlling for relationship happiness, being married was associated with high-esteem, greater life satisfaction, greater happiness and less distress.† The heavier commitment of marriage brings long-term concerns over a spouse’s future well-being. Marriage is a motivation of fighting for better financial supports. Some people prefer being single. In many people’s dictionaries, being single means being free. Single people can make decisions follwing their hearts without asking for any others’ approval. Their time is their own and their money is their own, so they can dominate the life by themselves. They may occasionally feel that thet have too much empty time on their hands, but thet can fill that time any way they want. Being single makes people really focus on their careers, education, and life goals. Put in long hours, work toward advancement or job hop until they find ideal positions which give them personal satisfaction. Dreams can be pursued freely, life can be shaped discretionarily. Being single may relate to less responsibilities. Besides freedom, another advantage to many people of being single is travalling. From weekend jounts to summer resort vacations, traveling alone is the time in one’s life of getting away and relaxing. On many practical levels, being single has additional advantage, a single person can often snag the odd single seat for otherwise sold-out performance. Without â€Å"wearing a ring†, single people have opportunities to choose their favorite partners among all the pursuers. For myself, I would like to choose the life of being married, rather than the life of being single. First of all, companionship and stabability is much more important to me than freedom. True love and marriage is a companionship. Secondly, as a person who likes struggling emotionally, I do not expect to live in my own emotional world. Thirdly, even though traveling alone is a wonderful experience, traveling with one’s partner will be an unforgettable journey. Visiting the places you both dream of will accomplish your common expectations. The same experience will make you closer. As to the question of being single or being married; people come and go and walk away, but I am not going anywhere. Being married cannot make life easier, but I will have someone to suffer this hard life with me, that is the marriage all about for me.

A Warm Hug: an Ode to Mom’s Home Cooking Essay

There are certain things in life that everybody loves. Whether its money, nice cars, a beautiful home, or a significant other. There is one thing that seems to trump these all and never gets mentioned much. That true love is mom’s home cooking. Before you write off my assumption as bland and ridiculous, consider this. Besides the presents, and the family time, what is most people’s favorite thing about Christmas? If you say mom’s home cooking, well you are right. When you went off to college or just moved out on your own, what was your favorite aspect of coming home? I’ll bet the farm that it was mom’s home cooking. Finally when you were a kid and you had a bad test, or someone picked on you that day, what always seemed to make things better and put a smile on your face? Was it video games? Nope, it was mom’s home cooking. To me it is the meaning of everything that is good in life. My mom is such a great cook. Anything you could think of, she’d make it. I know I’m biased and all since she’s my mom, but I’m not going to be offended if you said your mom was the best cook you know either. This is why we all love mom’s home cooking, because we all believe that our mom’s home cooking is the best. It’s that belief and notion that makes it so special. When it comes to cooking, my mom is of a special breed. You have to be when you cook for a family of seven and not have one complaint. One thing that makes her stand is the fact that she has an upright freezer and a deep freeze in the garage devoted just for pies. I loved coming home on weekends with the whole house smelling of bread, apples, cinnamon, and sugar. When mom made pies it was like a family holiday. Everybody would gather in the kitchen and wait for that first pie to come out of the oven. We’d all fight for that first warm, savory, sweet slice of heaven. Christmas time is always a special time. Family, presents, and of course Christmas cookies. Christmas cookies are another one of my mother’s specialties. She makes cookies from all walks of life. Each one is as good as the other. Nothing puts a smile on my face like a warm, fresh, cookie made by mom. When company would come over, she would set out so many different cookies, you’d think you were at a buffet. Tradition says that when you catch a cold you should get plenty of rest and of course eat some chicken noodle soup. Lots of people will just settle for the canned condensed kind. Not this ill patient. I get to enjoy mom’s home cooked chicken noodle soup. Just the thought of savory broth, soft noodles, and big chunks of chicken made me feel better almost immediately. Toucan Sam would have no trouble following his nose to this treasure from mom. The soup tastes so good, you would think it could cure cancer let alone the common cold. Mom’s home cooking even teaches life long lessons. It teaches you to share. My friends even appreciate mom’s home cooking. I’ve had many friends over for a bite. They love it so much that there have been many times my friends will come, regardless if I’m there or not. They just want to eat whatever it is that mom will cook. A couple of my friends have even had my mom cook and bake for them on their wedding days. Mom’s home cooking can be fancy. It also can be complicated. But when she perfects the simple dishes is when my heart and my mouth together jump for joy. The dish that makes me jump the most is none other than potato salad. This dish to me is my kryptonite. It brings me to my knees. I could eat my weight in potato salad. The tangy sweet flavor could make a grown man act like a kid again. Mom’s potato salad one time even earned her a marriage proposal. A man I used to work with told my mom that if anything every happened, to give him a call and they could work things out. It was all said after he tried her potato salad. People from all around love many different things. The one thing people want the most is to be comfortable. They try to find comfort in many ways. Whether it is a warm hug or a nice soft bed. But no comfort can be complete without some of mom’s home cooking.

White-Tailed Deer Facts (Odocoileus virginianus)

White-Tailed Deer Facts (Odocoileus virginianus) The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) gets its name for the white fur on the underside of its tail, which it flashes when it senses a threat. The species includes several subspecies, such as the tiny Florida Key deer and the large northern white-tailed deer. Fast Facts: White-Tailed Deer Scientific Name: Odocoileus virginianusCommon Names: White-tailed deer, whitetail, Virginia deerBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 6-8 feetWeight: 88-300 poundsLifespan: 6-14 yearsDiet: HerbivoreHabitat: North, Central, and northern South AmericaPopulation: 10 millionConservation Status: Least Concern Description The white-tailed deer has a reddish-brown coat in the spring and summer and a gray-brown coat in autumn and winter. The species is easily recognized by the white underside of its tail. Deer have horizontally-slit pupils with dichromatic blue and yellow vision. They cannot readily distinguish between orange and red colors. Deer size depends on sex and habitat. On average, mature specimens range from 6 to 8 feet in length, with a shoulder height around 2 to 4 feet. Deer in colder climates are larger than those found closer to the equator. Mature males, called bucks, weigh 150 to 300 pounds, on average. Mature females, called hinds or does, range from 88 to 200 pounds. Bucks regrow antlers each year in spring and shed them after the breeding season in winter. Antler size and branching is determined by age, nutrition, and genetics. Habitat and Distribution White-tailed deer range from the Yukon in Canada through the United States (except Hawaii and Alaska) and Central America south to Brazil and Bolivia. In the United States, the black-tailed or mule deer displaces the white-tailed deer west of the Rocky Mountains. Climate change has allowed the white-tailed deer to expand its presence in Canada in recent years. White-tailed deer have been introduced into Europe and the Caribbean and are farmed in New Zealand. Deer have adapted to a variety of habitats, including urban environments. Diet Although sometimes seen during the day, deer primarily browse before dawn and after dusk. White-tailed deer eat plants, including grasses, legumes, leaves, shoots, cacti, corn, fruit, and acorns. They can eat mushrooms and poison ivy with no ill effects. Deer are ruminants, with a four-chambered stomach. The animal needs time to develop gut microbes to digest new food as its diet changes, so feeding deer a food that is not found in the wild may harm it. While white-tailed deer are primarily herbivores, they are also opportunistic predators that will take mice and birds. White-tailed deer flagging its tail. Jà ©rà ©mie LeBlond-Fontaine, Getty Images Behavior When threatened, a white-tailed deer stomps, snorts, and raises its tail or flags to show the white underside. This signals predator detection and alerts other deer. In addition to sound and body language, deer communicate by marking their territory with urine and scents produced by glands found on their head and legs. A typical deer range is less than a square mile. Females form family groups with a mother and her fawns. Males group with other males, but are solitary during mating season. Reproduction and Offspring The white-tailed deer breeding season, called the rut, occurs in autumn in October or November. Males spar with their antlers to compete for females. Females give birth to one to three spotted fawns in spring. The mother hides her fawns in vegetation, returning to nurse them four or five times a day. Young are weaned around 8 to 10 weeks of age. Bucks leave their mothers and mature at about 1.5 years of age. Does may become sexually mature at 6 months of age, but typically do not leave their mother or breed until their second year. The life expectancy of a white-tailed deer ranges from 6 to 14 years. White-tailed doe and her fawn. Daniel J. Cox, Getty Images Conservation Status The IUCN classifies the conservation status of the white-tailed deer as least concern. The overall population is stable, although some subspecies are threatened. The Florida Key deer and Colombian white-tailed deer are both listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Deer are preyed upon by wolves, pumas, American alligators, bears, coyotes, lynx, bobcats, wolverines, and feral dogs. Eagles and crows may take fawns. However, the greatest threats come from habitat loss, overhunting, and motor vehicle collision. White-Tailed Deer and Humans Deer cause economic damage to farmers and pose a threat to motorists. They are hunted for game and sport and farmed for meat, pelts, and antlers. In some places, it is legal to keep white-tailed deer as pets. While captive deer are intelligent and affectionate, bucks may become aggressive and can cause serious injury. Sources Bildstein, Keith L. Why White-Tailed Deer Flag Their Tails. The American Naturalist. 121 (5): 709–715, May, 1983. doi:10.1086/284096Fulbright, Timothy Edward and J. Alfonso Ortega-S. White-tailed deer habitat: ecology and management on rangelands. Texas AM University Press, 2006. ISBN 978-1-58544-499-1.Gallina, S. and Arevalo, H. Lopez. Odocoileus virginianus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T42394A22162580. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T42394A22162580.enPost, Eric and Nils Stenseth. Large-Scale Climatic Fluctuation and Population Dynamics of Moose and White-Tailed Deer. Journal of Animal Ecology. 67 (4): 537–543, July, 1998. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2656.1998.00216.x

How Plants Animals Alter the Planets Surface

How Plants Animals Alter the Planet's Surface One of the agents of organic weathering, bioturbation is the disturbance of the soil or sediment by living things. It may include displacing soil by plant roots, digging by burrowing animals (such as ants or rodents), pushing sediment aside (such as in animal tracks), or eating and excreting sediment, as earthworms do. Bioturbation aids the penetration of air and water and loosens sediment to promote winnowing or washing (transportation). How Bioturbation Works Under ideal circumstances, sedimentary rock is formed in predictable layers. Sediments bits of soil, rock, and organic matter collect on the surface of the land or at the bottom of rivers and oceans. Over time, these sediments are compressed to the point of which they form rock. This process is called lithification. Layers of sedimentary rock may be seen in many geological structures. Geologists are able to determine the age and composition of sedimentary rock based on the materials included in the sediment and the level at which the rock lies. In general, older layers of sedimentary rocks lie under newer layers. Organic matter and fossils that make up the sediments also provide clues to the age of the rock. Natural processes can disturb the regular layering of sedimentary rock. Volcanoes and earthquakes can disturb layers by forcing older rock closer to the surface and newer rock deeper into the Earth. But it doesnt take a powerful tectonic event to disturb sedimentary layers. Organisms and plants are constantly shifting and changing Earths sediments. Burrowing animals and the actions of plant roots are two sources of bioturbation. Since bioturbation is so common, sedimentary rocks are divided into three groups that describe their level of bioturbation: Burrowed rock is filled with evidence of organisms, and may contain elements from several different sedimentary layers.Laminated rock shows evidence of bioturbation at the surface caused by nons include furrows and tracks created by aquatic or terrestrial animals.The massive rock contains sediments from just a single layer. Examples of Bioturbation   Bioturbation occurs in many different environments and at several different levels. For example: Earthworms digging through soil can shift older materials to higher layers. They can also leave behind traces of their activity in the form of fecal matter which, over time, lithifies.Burrowing marine animals such as crabs, clams, and shrimp, can radically change sedimentary layers. These animals burrow into the sand, creating tunnels and moving materials from one sedimentary layer to another. If the tunnels are sturdy enough, they may later be filled with material formed at a later time.Tree roots often run through multiple layers of soil. As they grow, they may disturb or mix sediments. When they fall, they pull older materials to the surface. Significance of Bioturbation Bioturbation provides researchers with information about sediments, and thus about the geology and history of the sediments and the area. For example: Bioturbation can suggest that a particular area is likely to be rich in petroleum or other natural resources;Bioturbation can provide clues to ancient life in the form of fossilized animal and plant remains;Bioturbation can provide information about life cycles, dietary habits, and migration patterns of contemporary organisms.

Strategic Management Procedures Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Strategic Management Procedures - Case Study Example Strategic planning is viewed to possess many advantages in the management aspect of the institution. These advantages manifest as this approach generally maintains the focus of the group towards their objectives and goals. Also, strategic planning also ensures that the different factors involved in the group's action are indeed incorporated and be well regarded in their plan ahead of time. Management who uses this approach becomes fully aware of the things and aspect that must be dealt with thus minimizing the certain issues of uncertainty and disconcertment. In addition to that, the efforts of the groups are well distributed to all the works and issues that must be addressed thus, minimizing waste and worthless efforts. However, strategic planning also do posts several disadvantages to the group and this is mainly related to cultural changes and ambiguity in the plan. Commonly, strategic planning comes in contrast with prevalent cultural trend in a certain locality thus, this approa ch also require change and adaptation when it comes to its implementation. Another is the ambiguity regarding the planning part where the strategy is mainly formulated with underestimation and overestimation, coordination failure, failure in following the created plan, resistance to the implementation of the plan, and others. If critically analyzed, it is evidently true that the advantages of strategic planning do outweigh is disadvantages regarding the achievement of the goals and objective of the group. The main roots this approach flaws can actual be viewed to be in relation to the culture trend and the planning itself. Strategic planning is indeed relevant because it can actually focus the efforts of the groups to the objective and keep all pertinent issues and aspect at perspective however, the plan itself must be created with the participation of every individual in the group for it for efficiently function. The group itself is composed of different individual and that their presence and support is indeed valuable thus they must all be regarded in the aspect of planning. If this concept if significant implemented in the formulation of the strategic management approach then the said value can actually be advantageous for the group towards the achievement of their primary goals and objectives. Case Based Analysis Today's business world is totally different form what the business industries were about ten years ago. Indeed, with the introduction of Information Technology to the globe, along came the different innovations for the business activities in the present system of global trade. This is the reason why many traditional organizations take the option in changing the way they approach the business world in attaining their goals of gaining profit. Among the corporations usually changing their systems are publishing business corporations. This is mainly due to the fact, that with the business of information distribution, a larger scale of customers is needed to support the said industry. Surely, with the traditional set up of business industries, a corporation's aim of reaching the most number of customers may not be that possible. But because of the emerging of virtual business and e-commerce, reaching a worldwide range of different customers had been possible for publishing companies in t he present

Integration of Financial and Operational Management Essay

Integration of Financial and Operational Management - Essay Example Dell has committed itself to operate in a way that would not only achieve excellence in operations but also benefit the company financially and would result in satisfied customers. Because of its commitment to constant improvement the company installed the direct selling method where JIT system and lean production were adopted which improved company’s efficiency and effectiveness in many areas. On the other hand the company used the rapidly growing IT technology well by working on customer focused ordering system which enable them to design their own product, which resulted in much satisfied customers and zero inventory level. Zero inventory level was further implemented by changes in the supply chain and integration of the entire company’s operations into the supply chain. Through redesigning of systems and process, Dell is able to become the most efficient PC manufacturers in the world. However, it should be noted that although Dell has installed a system which serves as a benchmark for many manufacturing companies, Dell still needs to focus on few areas which if not attended can turn out to be bigger operational issues in the future. Introduction: Dell is one of the largest American multinational company which deals in selling and supporting computers and related products and services. The company is involved in selling, manufacturing and distribution of high technological products like PCs, servers, data storage devices, printers, cameras, HDTVs soft wares etc. Dell is the third largest IT Company of the world and faces close competition from its competitors HP (Hewlett Packard), Acer, Apple, and Lenovo etc. Managerial Challenges: Dell has been in business for over 28 years. Since its inception, Dell has faced many operational and financial difficulties and has adopted numerous strategies to overcome its challenges and restore its profitability. Dell’s operational strategy since its early days had been to use interchangeable parts to pr oduce goods of mass-production at lowest possible prices. However, due to rapid increase in the demand of technology, globalization, new and evolving market trends and technological demands the company faced operational challenges in many fields. Excessive and Obsolete Inventory: Dell had faced numerous problems in the early stages; the company in its early stages expanded into traditional retail channels which it stopped later on due to heavy obsolete inventory and thin margins in the business. Later on in 1990 the company faced another operational issue of excess component inventory and abandonment of production line. This caused heavy losses to the company despite of doubling sales during the period. The major problem that Dell faced at that time was the excessive inventory along with the prevailing recession made it report a huge loss of $36 millions in 1994. (Ireland, Hoskisson & Hitt. 2012) Dell struggled with great difficulties in inventory management area as it used the trad itional manufacturing ordering system by ordering components in advance on the forecast basis and if the forecast went wrong the company had major write-downs. (Ireland, Hoskisson & Hitt. 2012) Changing Customer’s Demands: The technological business is a rapidly changing business where the introduction of a new technology can cause heavy losses. Dell’s main concern was about the inventory in hand that became obsolete due