Penguin Facts

Penguin Facts Penguins (Aptenodytes, Eudyptes, Eudyptula Pygoscelis, Spheniscus, and Megadyptes species, all in the Spheniscidae family) are perennially popular birds: chubby, tuxedo-clad creatures that waddle charmingly across the rocks and ice floes and belly flop into the sea. They are native to oceans in the southern hemisphere and in the Galapagos Islands. Fast Facts: Penguins Scientific Name: Aptenodytes, Eudyptes, Eudyptula Pygoscelis, Spheniscus, MegadyptesCommon Name: PenguinBasic Animal Group: Bird  Ã‚  Size: range from 17–48 inchesWeight: 3.3–30 poundsLifespan: 6–30 yearsDiet:  CarnivoreHabitat: Oceans in the southern hemisphere and the Galapagos IslandsConservation Status: Five species are listed as Endangered, five are Vulnerable, three are Near Threatened. Description Penguins are birds, and although they may not look like our other feathered friends, they are, indeed, feathered. Because they spend so much of their lives in the water, they keep their feathers slicked down and waterproofed. Penguins have a special oil gland, called a preen gland, that produces a steady supply of waterproofing oil. A penguin uses its beak to apply the substance to its feathers regularly. Their oiled feathers help keep them warm in the frigid waters, and also reduce drag when theyre swimming. Although penguins have wings, they cant fly at all. Their wings are flattened and tapered and look and function more like dolphin fins than bird wings. Penguins are efficient divers and swimmers, built like torpedoes, with wings designed for propelling their bodies through the water instead of air. Of all the recognized species of penguins, the largest is the Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), which can grow to four feet in height and 50–100 pounds in weight. The smallest is the little penguin (Eudyptula minor) which grows to an average 17 inches in length and weighs about 3.3 pounds. Jurgen Christine Sohns/Getty Images Habitat Dont travel to Alaska if youre looking for penguins. There are 19 described species of penguins on the planet, and all but one of them lives below the equator. Despite the common misconception that all penguins live among the icebergs of the Antarctic, thats not true, either. Penguins live on every continent in the Southern Hemisphere, including Africa, South America, and Australia. Most inhabit islands where they arent threatened by large predators. The only species that lives north of the equator is the Galapagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus), which, in line with its name, resides in the Galapagos Islands. Diet Most penguins feed on whatever they manage to catch while swimming and diving. Theyll eat any marine creature they can catch and swallow: fish, crabs, shrimp, squid, octopus, or krill. Like other birds, penguins dont have teeth and cant chew their food. Instead, they have fleshy, backward-pointing spines inside their mouths, and they use these to guide their prey down their throats. An average-sized penguin eats two pounds of seafood per day during the summer months. Krill, a small marine crustacean, is a particularly important part of the diet for young penguin chicks. One long-term study of the diet of gentoo penguins found that breeding success was directly related to how much krill they ate. Penguin parents forage for krill and fish at sea and then travel back to their chicks on land to regurgitate the food into their mouths. Macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolphus) are specialist feeders; they depend on krill alone for their nutrition. Ger Bosma/Getty Images Behavior Most penguins swim between 4–7 mph underwater, but the zippy gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) can propel itself through the water at 22 mph. Penguins can dive hundreds of feet deep, and stay submerged for as long as 20 minutes. And they can launch themselves out of the water like porpoises to avoid predators below the surface or to return to the surface of the ice. Birds have hollow bones so theyre lighter in the air, but a penguins bones are thicker and heavier. Just as a SCUBA divers use weights to control their buoyancy, a penguin relies on its beefier bones to counteract its tendency to float. When they need to make a quick escape from the water, penguins release air bubbles trapped between their feathers to instantly decrease drag and increase speed. Their bodies are streamlined for speed in the water. Reproduction and Offspring Nearly all penguin species practice monogamy, meaning a male and female mate exclusively with each other for the breeding season. Some even remain partners for life. The male penguin usually finds itself a nice nesting site before attempting to court a female. Most species produce two eggs at a time, but emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri, the largest of all the penguins) raise just one chick at a time. The emperor penguin male takes sole responsibility for keeping their egg warm by holding it on his feet and under his folds of fat, while the female journeys to the sea for food. Penguin eggs are incubated between 65 and 75 days, and when they are ready to hatch, the chicks use their beaks to break the shell, a process which can take up to three days. Chicks  weigh about 5–7 ounces at birth.  When chicks are small, one adult remains with the nest while the other forages. The parent tends to the chicks, keeping them warm until their feathers develop in about 2 months, and feeding them regurgitated food, a period which varies between 55 and 120 days. Penguins reach sexual maturity between three and eight years of age. Sylvain Cordie/Getty Images Conservation Status Five species of penguins are already classified as endangered (Yellow-eyed, Galapagos, Erect Crested, African, and Northern Rockhopper), and most of the remaining species are vulnerable or near threatened, according to the International Union for Conservation of Natures Red List. The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is the most endangered species on the list.   Threats Scientists warn that penguins worldwide are threatened by climate change, and some species may soon disappear. Penguins rely on food sources that are sensitive to changes in ocean temperatures, and dependent on polar ice. As the planet warms, the sea ice melting season lasts longer, impacting krill populations and penguin habitat. Sources Barbraud, Christophe, and Henri Weimerskirch. Emperor Penguins and Climate Change. Nature 411.6834 (2001): 183–86. Print.BirdLife International. Spheniscus demersus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e.T22697810A132604504, 2018.Bradford, Alina. Penguin Facts: Species Habitat. Live Science, September 22, 2014.Cole, Theresa L., et al. Ancient DNA of Crested Penguins: Testing for Temporal Genetic Shifts in the World’s Most Diverse Penguin Clade. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 131 (2019): 72–79. Print.Davis, Lloyd S. and John T. Darby (eds.). Penguin Biology. London: Elsevier, 2012.  Elliott, Kyle H., et al. High Flight Costs, but Low Dive Costs, in Auks Support the Biomechanical Hypothesis for Flightlessness in Penguins. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 110.23 (2013): 9380–84. Print.Lynch, Heather J., William F. Fagan, and Ron Naveen. Population Trends and Reproductive Success at a Frequently Visited Penguin Colony on the Weste rn Antarctic Peninsula. Polar Biology 33.4 (2010): 493–503. Print. Lynch, H. J., and M. A. LaRue. First Global Census of the Adà ©lie Penguin. The Auk: Ornithological Advances 131.4 (2014): 457–66. Print.Species Profile for African penguin (Spheniscus demersus). ECOS Environmental Conservation Online System, 2010.Threats to Penguins, Defenders of Wildlife.Waluda, Claire M., et al. Long-Term Variability in the Diet and Reproductive Performance of Penguins at Bird Island, South Georgia. Marine Biology 164.3 (2017): 39. Print.Waters, Hannah. 14 Fun Facts About Penguins. Smithsonian, April 25, 2013.

Fedex Case Study Essays

Fedex Case Study Essays Fedex Case Study Essay Fedex Case Study Essay Fed Ex Case Issue: Federal Express is a strong recognizable brand with growth potential, but the company faces a multitude of challenges with rising fuel prices, increased value of living, as well as a decline in the economy. FedEx also encounters issues with competition and even negative publicity due to various lawsuits involving violations against EEOC laws and regulations. SWOT Analysis: Strengths: Best leader in express shipping o 99% of deliveries are on time Expansion of operations into international markets o Purchase of Tiger International Strong brand image associated with products, quality, and reliability Weaknesses: Expensive compared to other services Increased amount of debt Decreased expansion in Europe Opportunities: Expansion of online consumer services Offer larger variety of shipping services Global business growth Threats: Technological advancements o E-Commerce Competition o Overnight delivery market matured rapidly Rising fuel prices Decline in worl dwide economy Rising costs associated with employee salaries and benefits Negative publicity due to lawsuits Critical SWOT Factors: Federal Express needs to focus on their strengths in the company, as well as pursuing their opportunities. FedEx built its foundation on being the fastest and most reliable postal service in the United States, and has taken these principles overseas in foreign markets. The FedEx brand name and image is critical toward the company’s on-going success and future growth opportunities. Being globally known, as well as having a strong foothold in almost every country will allow FedEx customers to more willingly accept new services offered by the company. Such factors for expansion and competitive advantage will include offering online services. The world is becoming more technologically advanced day by day, with the use of Internet services; FedEx will be able to adhere to the world’s online progression. Currently, FedEx is aggressively moving into e-commerce in order to fulfill business-to-business and business-to-consumer merchants. Moreover, the company needs to focus more on reducing their labor costs, as well as finding a way to decrease fuel costs. With the price of oil rising continually each year, FedEx’s fuel costs have risen up to 30% within the past three years. : Despite the fuel costs, the company’s labor costs have risen even higher; the largest expense FedEx endures. This is immensely critical since the company has suffered a multitude of lawsuits regarding unfair pay. According to EEOC laws, FedEx is still under investigation whether the company is violating terms and policies under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The distinction between independent contractors and employees for the company is imperative, because under the federal law, if the company treats the contractor as an employee, the company has certain legal obligations, such as overtime pay and withholding taxes. If FedEx is in violation of these laws and more lawsuits continue to sprout, the company may be in jeopardy of losing their strong and loyal brand image that has been built upon for decades. . Alternative Solutions: 1. Federal Express should move toward integration of expansion within e-commerce to an online subsidiary for consumer retailers. By collaborating with a large and well-known retailer such as WalMart or Target, FedEx would strengthen not only its name, but also its revenue within the marketplace. FedEx could integrate with a retailing company by partnering with each other. Therefore, they would be able to share benefits with and increase each company’s revenue. For example, if FedEx integrated with WalMart, WalMart would be able to have discounts on shipping products and goods. Likewise, FedEx would be able to always have a buyer that would represent a majority of their profits, further increasing revenue. Also by collaborating, both companies will gain more market power and increase their brand image. Through e-commerce strategies, both companies could increase their technological strengths and online consumer industry growth power, by providing faster and more efficient shipping for consumer needs. Technological advancements and use of products and services over the Internet will provide opportunities and expansion in the future years for FedEx. Another long-term advantage would be increased publicity. Any company engaging in a new marketing plan, especially through e-commerce will become noticed through public relations. Allowing consumers to shop online with the integrated company will allow the products they purchase to be delivered even faster and as time goes by, product shipping may even decrease in price. If FedEx decides to collaborate with a retailer, the company should focus an immense amount toward promotional efforts, using multiple media outlets. There could be traditional media used, such as television, radio, newspaper, and magazine advertisements. Then, FedEx could spend time developing its social media through Facebook and Twitter, using promotional tactics by giving free samples, coupons, and discounts. The company can spend more on e-marketing using the pay-per-click techniques by becoming first on every search engine page and spending money for their advertisements to appear on banners. This will hopefully also increase word-of-mouth communication through brand loyalty and customer satisfaction. The technology market is growing rapidly in every product and service industry. It is imperative to focus on this aspect in order to gain a greater amount of market share, especially by merging and sharing services with a well-known and respected retailer. 2. Federal Express can increase their revenue, as well as their services by allowing consumer travel options. The company already has one of the largest airlines in the world, and has thousands of skilled employee pilots. FedEx could offer last minute discounted airline tickets to the public in order to gain additional revenue from already existing system transportation use. This would be immensely feasible and easy to execute. FedEx is already a well-trusted brand name. Consumers would feel safe to fly with the company. Also, transportation has established itself as fast, efficient, and reliable. FedEx is the clear leader in express shipping with 99% of deliveries being on time. This means, consumers would have no worries of missing their flight or anticipation of delays. Everything runs smoothly with Federal Express; â€Å"Our absolutely, positively spirit puts our customers at the heart of everything we do,† states one of the six themes that frame FedEx efforts. The target audience for these discounted tickets could be anyone, especially since FedEx transports nearly everywhere. With the decline of the economy and fuel prices on the rise, consumers will be more than eager to purchase discounted airline tickets. Likewise, there is usually space on FedEx aircrafts that is never put into use. By selling discounted tickets, this will increase revenue for FedEx and create an entirely new segment of services. Distribution of airline tickets would be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Likewise, ticket prices would be based on travel-time and current market price, and then the tickets would be reduced accordingly. Promotion of these airline tickets would be seen through every media outlet, but mostly e-marketing. Brand loyalty programs would be implemented, allowing the most loyal customers of FedEx to be given the opportunity to take advantage of the discounted air travel first. With the prices of fuel steadily increasing and the economy still discouraged, Federal Express can create opportunities or consumers, as well as themselves. Discounted airline tickets flying with FedEx could be a giant step in the company’s future. 3. Federal Express needs to focus on employees, making sure all personnel working for FedEx is treated with respect and lawful expectations. Throughout the past several years, FedEx has received many lawsuits pertaining to EEOC laws regarding unfair pay and benef its. A major lawsuit pertained to the FedEx Ground/Home Delivery drivers regarding whether they are independent contractors or employees of the company. The company is controlling almost everything about the ‘independent contractors,’ even prohibiting them from working for other companies. FedEx strictly dictates working hours and routes, requires them to wear FedEx uniforms and purchase company scanners, and enforces all company rules upon them. Under EEOC laws, these conditions constitute for the ‘independent contractors’ to be employees under federal law. This factor is significant, for employees are entitled to certain benefits and compensation such as, overtime pay and withholding taxes. Federal Express has built part of its image upon the company’s enviable corporate culture and workforce. The company has even been named as one of the â€Å"100 Best Companies to Work For† and one of the â€Å"World’s Most Admired Corporations† from Fortune Magazine. If FedEx really prides itself with its care and respect for its workers, they would adhere to EEOC laws. Likewise, if FedEx can clear up their policies and pay to their workers, the company would gain positive publicity. This would amplify the company’s positive reputation even more, increasing their brand image as a whole. In addition, to gain competitive advantage over competitors in regards to employees, FedEx should reassign teams from one project to another to effectively distribute people with critical talent, instead of assign employees to specific business units. Using job enlargement, as well as job enrichment will provide employees and workers with a sense of autonomy that will help increase motivation and productivity. This would also allow for pay cuts and employee dismissals for those who are not fulfilling duties or are not a major asset to the Federal Express team. It is vital to the company to terminate those who lack high productivity. FedEx then can focus on compensating those who greatly contribute their skills and knowledge toward the company. With the cost of living steadily increasing, FedEx needs to reward employees who implement the best abilities in continuing to strengthen the company and foresee its growth and expansion opportunities. Recommendation: The best recommendation for Federal Express would be to integrate and collaborate with a consumer retailer and to focus the integration through e-commerce. FedEx is the clear leader in express shipping, controlling more than 49% of the market in the United States. By building a relationship and a lifetime value customer with a large consumer retailer, FedEx will begin to create a competitive advantage over almost all other postal services. One of the greatest strengths of FedEx is their brand image and customer loyalty. Expanding on these strengths to create new service online will easily be accepted and used by current customers, as well as potential consumers. Also in long-term results, FedEx will be able to reduce shipping costs. By collaborating with a major retailer, FedEx will begin to increase revenue, thus reducing shipment costs through purchases made within the retailer. E-commerce will enable FedEx to expand more internationally. There has been tremendous growth within the Asian market, but FedEx has not had success with its European markets. After the e-commerce strategy underway, FedEx can emerge in European markets once again, establishing information networks in each country. The company will now have the global infrastructure to support its operations. Likewise, the FedEx international foundation will be much stronger and more developed; therefore increasing global market power. Federal Express will also be able to increase positive publicity not only in the United States, but in foreign markets as well. The new overseas operations will be a gateway toward more employment options, creating new opportunities for FedEx to expand. FedEx will also begin to expand its distribution methods by creating more service options overseas. The vast target market of FedEx has the potential growth to expand in nearly every country, especially when integrated with another global company; the opportunities are endless. FedEx will need to change their advertising and marketing plan in order to become successful in e-commerce. Using traditional media, as well as e-marketing and social media will enhance its awareness. Promotional efforts will be imperative toward increasing brand recognition and the integration of two company offerings. FedEx could offer free shipping, coupons, and discounts to new customers. There could also be a loyalty program for returning customers to increase loyalty and promote word-of-mouth communication. Technological advancements, as well as expanding target markets are one of FedEx’s greatest opportunities to improve its success and growth in the marketplace. Federal Express is a mature, recognizable company with a great amount to offer.

How are we reliant on Corn in today's society Essay

How are we reliant on Corn in today's society - Essay Example d syrups, baking powder, dextrin or dextrose, food starch, maltodextrin, modified gum starch and sorbitol, vegetable gum, vegetable starch and vegetable protein, Grits and hominy some of the products which contain corn in one way or another (Fitzgerald) Even if a person tries to avoid corn foods deliberately, it is extremely difficult for him to avoid the influence of corn in his food habits completely. Corn plant leaves are one of the major food items for American cows. While using the milk of those cows, or while taking tea from a restaurant, corn is influencing the food habits of that person indirectly. Corn related allergies are causing problems to many people. Such people always look for food items that contain no corn related ingredients. It is extremely difficult to identify a food item without corn ingredients in America. However, Champagne contains no corn ingredient which is strange in my opinion (My Week Without Corn). This paper analyses the importance of corn as a food grain. One of the major myths associated with global food production is that there is not enough food to go around. In reality, global food production is more than enough to cater the needs of the entire people in this world. According to Melissa Moore (2005), The world today produces enough grain alone to provide every human being on the planet with 3,500 calories a day. That’s enough to make most people fat! In fact, if all foods are considered together, enough is available to provide at least 4.3 pounds of food per person a day. That includes two and half pounds of grain, beans and nuts, about a pound of fruits and vegetables, and nearly another pound of meat, milk and eggs (Moore). The above statistics clearly suggest that there is nothing wrong with the global food production, but something else is causing food scarcity in some parts of the world. Corn is most popular food grain in the world. Even wheat comes second only to corn in terms of global usages. It should be noted

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Management - Essay Example Typically low cost leadership and differentiation strategies are implemented independently. The reason this occurs is because the two strategies have a different focus. A low leadership strategy persuades customers by offering the best price. Everyone loves to purchase a bargain. The implementation of a low cost leadership strategy can be used by corporations in order to increase their market share. The differentiation strategy is different because since the firm wants to become different in some aspect this typically implies offering a premium product. Products that are differentiated can be sold at higher prices in the marketplace. Despite the differences between the cost leadership strategy and a differentiation strategy it is possible to implement both simultaneously. Companies that are able to implement a cost leadership with differentiation are using a hybrid strategy. It is difficult to achieve, but under certain circumstances the hybrid strategy can be used. A perfect example of a company that can achieve a cost leadership with differentiation is a firm that operates in a monopoly marketplace. The lack of competition gives the monopolist lead way into the price structure that the firm implements. An important thing to remember about cost leadership is that the lower prices are relative to the market for similar products.

Time and Nanotechnology Essay Example for Free

Time and Nanotechnology Essay Do you believe in technology? Or do you think that all inventions of scientists are worthwhile for humanity? Of course, lots of these inventions are helpful and useful. Also, some of them have created new periods in past. They played a big role for coming modernity. However, there are some inventions that seem very effective but they have brought new problems for humanity and environment. Especially, at the beginning of an invention, people don’t realize that it will become big problem. Nowadays, people are taking notice of this kind of things. Nanotechnology is one of these inventions which are needed to be discussed from point to point. Today, there are some people who believe that nanotechnology is dangerous; however some scientists think that nanotechnology has great benefits because it helps people to invent new things for the future. Nanotechnology is a huge area which gives opportunity for other technologies to create better products. With the benefits of nanotechnology, it will be easy to develop new things. First of all, I want to explain a little bit what nanotechnology is. Nanotechnology is taking up the control of matter on a molecular scale. It deals with very little structures which is 100 times smaller. At this scale, properties of products can be changed, giving one the ability to create new things such as create more precise, cleaner, better, stronger and more durable products. For example, today, there are some kind of battery which is produced with nanotechnlogy, much more durable than before. In addition, in the future, it will be easy to invent new products and machines because nanotechnology will play vital role on manufacturing. According to Angelo (2007), â€Å"Nanotechnology promises to fundamentally change the way materials and devices will be produce in the future† (pp. 256). This can be change the future totally. Nanotechnology has contributed so much to advances in many different areas. Lots of technologies are affected from new developments in nanotechnology because these developments open a new period for others. Medicine is the most important area which is affected from nanotechnology. Today, there are some diseases which have not any treatment and cause lots of death. To illustrate, cancer is one of these diseases. But with the usage of nanotechnology in cancer treatments, scientists found a way to treat people. Also, it looks to be more developments on medicine in the future. Another important area is electronics. Like nanotechnology, electronics is very important area for new developments. Nanotechnology has contributed so much to electronics. According to Miller et al. (2004), Nanotechnology has effect on the electronic tools and systems and it is getting possible to develop on computer processing, memory and data storage and demonstration technology (pp. 24). With the usage of nanotechnology, there are lots of materials which are very small, strong and faster than before. The last important area is textile industry. New developments of nanotechnology also play vital role on this industry. Today, new textile products are more durable to heat, UV ray and chemicals because of the changing the structure of products. In addition, it seems to be more advance in the future.

About Health Care :: essays research papers

ABOUT HEALTH CARE I think there are many causes which have permitted in the last years increase people ´s life expectancy. I consider people are living longer thanks to government policies on public ´s health and due in most part to the great medical and technological advances that have been made in the last decades. Cures and immunizations against many diseases have been found. Research has provided valuable information about the human body and the human mind. Even "miracle" medicines have saved a lot of lives and there are new methods that have been developed to prevent and cure diseases that were unknown and unconceivable some years ago. There are still unanswered questions and unsolved problems, but researchers, doctors, biologists, public health employees and many others are working to answer and solve these questions and problems. No one of us knows how long will it take to find a cure for cancer diseases or a solution to prevent heart diseases, for example; but I think scientists are closer to find a solution. On the other hand, I consider this achievement in people ´s health is partly a result of the activity of many private and public organizations in health all over the world, who have established policies and priorities in order to create personal and environmental health programms, pollution control, policies related to chronic and infectious diseases, a smoke-free society and people ´s education. Finally, I think many important things have been done in medical science which have contributed to people ´s health, so now the live longer than in past times. In many ways, people of all ages and in every race have better health.

Night World : Soulmate Chapter 17

I need to call my mom,† Hannah said. Thierry nodded. â€Å"But maybe wait until she's up. It's not dawn yet.† They were at Thierry's house, in the elegant bedroom with the softly burnished gold walls. The window had just begun to turn gray. It was so good to rest, to let go of tension, to feel her battered body relax. It was so good to be alive. She felt as if she'd been reborn and was looking at the world with wide new eyes. Even the smallest comforts-a hot drink, a fire in the fireplace-were immeasurably precious. And it was good to be with Thierry. He was sitting on the bed, holding her hand, watching her as if he couldn't believe she was real. The healer had come and gone, and now it was just the two of them. They sat together quietly, not needing words. They looked into each other's eyes, and then they were reaching for each other, holding each other. Resting like weary travelers in each other's arms. Hannah leaned her forehead against Thierry's lips. It's over, she thought. I was right when I told Paul the apocalypse was coming-but it's over now. Thierry stirred, kissing the hair on her forehead. Then he spoke, not out loud but with his mental voice. As soon as Hannah heard it, she knew he was trying to say something serious and important. You know, you came very close to becoming a vampire. You ‘re going to be sick for a few days while your body shifts back to human. Hannah nodded without pulling away to look at him. The healer had told her all that. She sensed that there was something more Thierry wanted to say. And†¦ well, you still have a choice, you know. There was a silence. Then Hannah did pull away to look at him. â€Å"What do you mean?† He took a deep breath, then said out loud, â€Å"I mean, you can still choose to be a vampire. You're right on the edge. If you want, we can make you change over.† Hannah took a long breath of her own. She hadn't thought about this-but she was thinking now. As a vampire, she'd be immortal; she could stay with Thierry continuously for who knew how many thousands of years? She would be stronger than a human, faster, telepathic. And perfect physically. Involuntarily, her hand went to her left cheek, to her birthmark. The doctors couldn't take it away. But becoming a vampire would. She looked directly at Thierry. â€Å"Is that what you want? For me to become a vampire?† He was looking at her cheek, too. Then he met her eyes. â€Å"I want what you want. I want you to be happy. Nothing else matters to me.† Hannah took her hand away. â€Å"Then,† she said very softly, â€Å"if you don't mind, I'll stay human. I don't mind the birthmark. It's just-part of me, now. It doesn't bring up any bad memories.† After a moment, she added, â€Å"All humans are imperfect, I guess.† She could see tears in Thierry's eyes. He gently lifted her hand and kissed it. He didn't say anything, but something about his expression made Hannah's throat and chest fill with love.. Then he took her in his arms. And Hannah was happy. So happy that she was crying a little, too. She was with her flying companion-her playmate. The one who was sacred to her, who was the other half of the mysteries of life for her. The one who would always be there for her, helping her, watching her back, picking her up when she fell down, listening to her stories-no matter how many times she told them. Loving her even when she was stupid. Understanding her without words. Being inside the innermost circle in her mind. Her soulmate. Things are going to be all right now, she thought. Suddenly it was as if she could see the corridor of time again, but this time looking forward, not back. She would go to college and become a paleontologist. And she and Thierry would work with Circle Daybreak and the Old Powers that were rising. They would be happy together, and they would help the world through the enormous changes that were coming. The sadness would go out of Thierry's eyes. They would love and discover and learn and explore. And Hannah would grow up and get older, and Thierry would love her just the same. And then one day, being human, she would go back to Mother Earth, like a wave going out to the ocean. Thierry would grieve for her-and wait for her. And then they would start all over again. One lifetime with him was enough, but Hannah sensed that there would be many. There would always be something new to learn. Thierry moved, his breath warming her hair. â€Å"I almost forgot,† he whispered. â€Å"You're seventeen today. Congratulations.† That's right, Hannah thought. She looked toward the window, startled and overwhelmed. The sky was turning pink now. She was seeing the dawn of her seventeenth birthday-something that had never happened before. I've changed my destiny. â€Å"I love you,† she whispered to Thierry. And then they just sat together, holding each other as the room filled with light.

What Positive Steps

If you ask anybody what positive steps will you take to tackle climate change? Moreover everyone's answer would be â€Å"What will happen if only I start taking positive steps to tackle climate change? First let someone start then I will also start;† Friends this is wrong. To start anything the steps should be taken by us but we will wait till others start and others do the same. What's the first thing that comes in your mind when you hear about climate change? Answer is Global Warming or Rising Temperature.Global warming is one of the main reasons of climate change. Rising sea level, drought and Increasing temperature are the cause of climate change. And the one who suffers It are we and nature. And the main reason for it is human activities. What positive steps can you take to tackle climate change? There are many ways to do so like using renewable resources, using solar light, windmill, etc. The first way Is very simple and easy. The way Is traveling small distances by cycl e instead of scooter/car. These reduce the use of forest fuel like terror which is getting lesser and lesser day by day.We should also save petrol for future generations. We can also travel by public transport. Traveling by public transport could reduce the use of fuel by individual four or two wheelers. Some people feel uncomfortable in public transport. The recent launched car/bus by which run on hydrogen rather than petrol is also one way. The second thing I or we can do is save energy in the form of electricity. Day by day energy resources are getting scarce. The thing you or I can do is finish your work in daytime when there is natural eight given by sun, so there Is less use of artificial light.Another thing that we can do Is when there Is no need of electric appliances Like computer, bulbs, lights, fans, T. V. ‘s etc. Just don't forget to turn It off. Also In summer at night when you go to sleep Just open the windows rather than turning on the A. C. ‘s, so there I s natural air, electricity is conserved and pollution of air by A. C. Will not happen. The next boy is, to use 3 magical Or's. Reuse, Reduce and Recycle. They are the most common topics when we start talking about climate change. 1. ReuseReuse the thing which you have used once like plastic, bottles, plastic bags, glass bottles, etc. These are the materials which are very harmful to the climate. 2. Reduce Reduce the use of non- biographer waste like things made up of plastic. They take 100 of years to decompose. In the dump yard they Just burn it to finish it up. By burning It very poisonous smoke is formed which can harm the climate and human beings. 3. Recycle After using the things once never throw It If It can be recycled. We can put things Like bottle in the bottle bank. NAS into save-a-can and give paper to the person who ND I can take is the one most people in the word have ignored. That is being vegetarian. Friends, at least we can be vegetarian we could reduce 51% of greenh ouse gases. The step is weird and simple but very powerful. Going vegetarian indirectly reduce deforestation. Non-vegetarian people are the cause of 1/3rd deforestation of grass in the word. They cut forest for grazing animals and to make them health in order to produce good meat. Meat industry produces more carbon dioxide then all word's cars and rare planes.Also being vegetarian could expand our fife by 15 years, and could protect us from diseases like Swine Flu and Bird Flu. In you and l, some people are farmers. So the next point is for them. People which are farmers amongst ‘us' should use. New methods of irrigation by which the use of water would become less and also should take interest in soil conservation for growing good crops and not letting a place become drought affected by making embankments, dress and forestation. So readers think that we should not wait for anyone to get on, instead we take a real step forward to save our mother planet.

Biography of Wilma Rudolph Essay Example

Biography of Wilma Rudolph Essay Example Biography of Wilma Rudolph Paper Biography of Wilma Rudolph Paper â€Å"Never underestimate the power of your dreams and the influence of the human spirit.   We are all the same in this notion.   The potential for greatness lives within each of us† (as cited in â€Å"Wilma Rudolph Biography,† n.d.).   These are the words of Wilma Rudolph, an American athlete whose amazing life and remarkable career inspired many people.   Indeed, she knows what shes taking about, as she successfully overcame lifes struggles and reached her full potential for greatness.   This research paper aims to discuss the life, career, achievements and legacy of Wilma Rudolph. Family Background On June 23, 1940, Wilma Glodean Rudolph was born in St. Bethlehem, Tennessee (Roberts, 2008).   She grew up in Clarksville, Tennessee.   Her parents were Ed and Blanche Rudolph (Women in History, 2008).   Her father was a railroad porter and handyman, while her mother worked as a maid for rich Caucasian families (Women in History, 2008; â€Å"Wilma Rudolph,† 2008).   Wilma was the 20th child in a family of 22 children (â€Å"Wilma Rudolph,† 2008).   This is because prior to her fathers marriage to his mother, he already had 14 children (Lovett, 1997).   Despite their parents’ hard work, the Rudolph family remained poor.   The 1940s was a rather difficult time for numerous Americans; the Great Depression rendered many people unemployed and homeless (Women in History, 2008).   The Rudolph family was part of this period; because life was hard, they had to improvise, using flour sacks to make dresses for the girls (Women in History, 2008). In 1963, Rudolph was married to Robert Eldridge, her high school sweetheart (Women in History, 2008).   They had four children, which consisted of two boys and two girls, namely: Yolanda, Djuana, Robert and Xurry (Lovett, 1997).   Rudolph and Eldridge were later divorced (Women in History, 2008). Childhood As a result of her premature birth, Rudolph only weighed 4.5 pounds (Women in History, 2008).   At the time of her birth, there was racial segregation.   The local hospital could not admit Wilmas mother because it was for Caucasians only.   In Clarksville, there is a single African-American doctor present, but due to financial constraints, Rudolph and her mother could not see that doctor either (Women in History, 2008).   Her mother did to her what any other dedicated mother would have done; she took care of her daughter and nursed her to health for every illness she endured.   At the tender age of four, Wilma suffered from double pneumonia and scarlet fever (Owens, 1976).   Other illnesses she suffered included â€Å"chicken pox, measles, whooping cough and polio† (Lovett, 1997).   She also suffered from mumps (Women in History, 2008). Among all the illness that struck Rudolph, polio was the worst.   They noticed that Wilmas left leg and foot was slowly being malformed.   Her mothers efforts did not suffice to remedy her daughters condition, so they were prompted to see the doctor.   They later found out that it was polio, and the doctor believed Rudolph would never be able to walk (Women in History, 2008).   Rudolph said: â€Å"My doctors told me I would never walk again.   My mother told me I would. I believed my mother† (as cited in â€Å"Wilma Rudolph Biography,† n.d.).   Indeed, her mother knew Rudolph would walk and was not discouraged by the doctors prognosis.   She discovered that Rudolph could be treated in a Nashville medical college for African-Americans called Meharry Hospital (Women in History, 2008).   Despite the 50-mile distance, her mother brought her to the hospital two times a week for two years (Women in History, 2008).   After Rudolphs two year treatment, she lea rned how to walk with a leg brace made of metal.   She was only six years old (Lovett, 1997).   When asked about her experience with the brace, Rudolph had this to say: â€Å"I spent most of my time trying to figure out how to get them off.   However, when you come from a large, wonderful family, theres always a way to achieve your goals† (as cited in â€Å"Wilma Rudolph Biography,† n.d.). Aside from the brace, the doctors also advised that therapy would be extremely helpful in healing Rudolphs leg (Owens, 1976).   In the hospital, Rudolph received water and heat therapy.   Her therapy, however, was not confined inside the hospital.   Even after a long day of work, her mother still found the time to massage her daughters leg when Rudolph was asleep (Owens, 1976).   Rudolphs massage therapy did not stop with her mother.  Ã‚   Three of Wilmas sisters also learned to massage her leg, a skill they all learned from their mother (Owens, 1976).   Her brothers also offered moral support, as they encouraged her to continually fight her recovery (Women in History, 2008). After wearing a leg brace for a long time, Rudolph had to wear a â€Å"high-topped shoe† for leg support (â€Å"Wilma Rudolph,† 2008).   Her corrective shoe did not hinder the young Wilma from playing sports, specifically basketball.   Back then, basketball consisted in putting a ball in a peach basket elevated and attached to a pole (Owens, 1976).   That pole was installed when Rudolph was eleven (Roberts, 2007).   According to her mother, â€Å"After that, it was basketball, basketball, basketball† (as cited in Roberts, 2007).   Wearing her corrective shoe, Rudolph played basketball with her brothers.   In the words of Owens (1976), â€Å"she would dribble and cut, stop and go, jump for the ball and spring into the air as she shot.† At age twelve, Rudolph finally walked without braces or corrective shoes.   Amazingly, she could run as well.   Her mother arrived home one day, and found her playing basketball with her siblings in the backyard.   However, her mother noticed that her daughter was barefoot (â€Å"Wilma Rudolph,† 2008).   Rudolph was so engrossed with playing that she barely noticed the restoration of her legs (Owens, 1976). Education Because of her crippling condition, Rudolph began her education at home (Women in History, 2008).   She was taught by the members of her large family.   At age seven, she officially attended school.   During that time, Tennessee and all the other states in the South had segregated schools; Caucasian and African-Americans cannot and did not go to the same schools.   Despite the same amount of taxes collected from both groups, African-American schools were inferior to its Caucasian counterparts.   These schools were â€Å"poorly funded,† which meant there were not enough books and classrooms for the students, nor were there enough teachers (Women in History, 2008). Like her sister Yolanda, Rudolph also joined the basketball team in junior high (Women in History, 2008).   However, for the first three years, Coach Clinton Gray did not allow her to play.   It was only in her sophomore year when she was allowed to play as starting guard.   Wilma acquired the nickname â€Å"Skeeter† from Coach Gray (Roberts, 2007).   Coach Gray once told her: â€Å"Youre little, youre fast and you always get in the way† (as cited in Roberts, 2007).   Soon, she was playing for the state; she got 49 points in a single game, a record for Tennessee (Roberts, 2007).  Ã‚   Rudolphs start in basketball eventually gave way to her track career, as Coach Ed Temple saw her during a state basketball competition.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Burt High School, which Rudolph attended, did not have finances to maintain a track team; because of this, Coach Temple invited her to attend a summer sports camp at Tennessee State University (Lovett, 1997). Rudolph graduated from high school, and attended Tennessee State University on a full scholarship (Women in History, 2008).   Because of her track career, she had to stop studying for a year.   Still, she came back and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Education in 1963 (Women in History, 2008). Career in Sports According to Rudolph, â€Å"I walked with braces until I was at least nine years old.   My life wasnt like the average person who grew up and decided to enter the world of sports† (as cited in â€Å"Wilma Rudolph Biography,† n.d.).   After an extremely difficult childhood, no one would ever think that Wilma was capable of doing sports.   Indeed, she did, and was successful too. Coach Edward S. Temple was a referee for a Clarksville basketball game in 1955 (Lovett, 1997).   Coach Temple was the coach for the Tigerbelles Womens Track Club at the Tennessee State University (TSU) (Lovett, 1997).   The Tigerbelles was the â€Å"most internationally accomplished athletic team† in Tennessee (Lovett, 1997).   There, Coach Temple saw this â€Å"long, skinny-legged teenage basketball player,† and saw her potential to be a sprinter (Lovett, 1997).   The person Coach temple saw was Rudolph.   He then wasted no time inviting the then 14-year-old to participate in his summer camp (Lovett, 1997). Rudolph did attend the said summer camp, and enjoyed it immensely.   Rudolph said, â€Å"I loved the feeling of freedom in running, the fresh air, the feeling that the only person Im competing with is me† (as cited in â€Å"Wilma Rudolph Biography,† n.d.).   She enjoyed running so much that even if she was still in high school, she had already been attending college practices under Coach Temples supervision (Roberts, 2007).   Those practices happened everyday.   Rudolph narrates, â€Å"I ran and ran and ran every day, and I acquired this sense of determination, this sense of spirit that I would never, never give up, no matter what else happened† (as cited in â€Å"Wilma Rudolph Biography,† n.d.). Rudolphs success as an athlete was also dependent on Coach Temples hard work and determination.   He was a sociology instructor by profession, but he was unpaid as a coach (Roberts, 2007).   He used his own means and resources to allow his sprinters to train and meet.   He drove them in his own vehicle.   It was also he who was responsible for lining the school track, which used to be â€Å"an unmarked and unsurfaced dirt oval† (Roberts, 2007).  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Coach Temple may be dedicated, but that does not mean he was lenient.   For every minute that girls were late for practice, he let them run an extra lap (Roberts, 2007).   In one instance, Rudolph was 30 minutes late for because she overslept; Coach Temple made her run 30 extra laps as punishment.   She immediately learned her lesson; she came 30 minutes early the next day (Roberts, 2007). The year 1956 saw six Tigerbelles, including Rudolph, headed to the Olympics (Lovett, 1997).   She competed in her first ever Olympics at the age of sixteen, and took home a bronze medal for 4100 relay (International Olympic Committee, 2008).   Four years after, Rudolph and the rest of the team proceeded to Pan American Games, and they took home many medals.   However, it was in the 1960 Rome Olympics were Rudolph emerged most victorious, a victory that brought her into the limelight. Rudolph competed in three events: the 100m and 200 m dashes, and the 4x100m relay (International Olympic Committee [IOC], 2008).   In the semifinals of the 100m dash, she equaled the world record at 11.3 seconds (IOC, 2008).   She then went on to win the final with only 11.0 seconds (IOC, 2008).   After three days, she then bagged her second victory for the 200m dash (IOC, 2008).   In addition, she finished the 4x100m relay semifinals with a world record of 44.4 seconds (IOC, 2008); she also emerged victorious in the final.   However, this victory almost did not happen.   Rudolph was ready to receive the baton and run, but the girl who was supposed to pass it did not actually place the baton on Rudolphs hand (Owens, 1976).   In the words of Owens (1976), â€Å"the required smooth passing motion, with one girl slowing and the other speeding up, was broken.†Ã‚   By this time German runner Jutta Heine was already ahead (Owens, 1976).   Rudolph ran as fast as she c ould, and finished ahead of Heine.   As a result, Rudolph took home three Olympic gold medals. In 1957, Rudolph maintained her level of success, as she finished a 100m dash in 11.3 seconds, matching the world record (IOC, 2008)..   After four days, she surpassed the previous world relay record (IOC, 2008). Fame and Recognition Rudolphs Olympic success made history.   She was the â€Å"first woman American woman to win three gold medals in one Olympics† (Roberts, 2007).   This accomplishment made Rudolph a household name, and she gained fans around the world.   She was suddenly catapulted to the spotlight; both local and foreign media considered her as a celebrity.   The same year she won in the Olympics, she received two recognitions: United Press Athlete of the Year and Associated Press Woman Athlete of the Year (â€Å"Wilma Rudolph Biography,† n.d.). Rudolphs running style and natural beauty made everyone sit up and notice.   Her height was five foot eleven; her weight was 132 pounds (Owens, 1976).   She was very fast, yet graceful.   To borrow the words of Owens (1976), â€Å"Wilma was willowy, streamlined, and shaped like a girl.†Ã‚   This made international journalists give her several names.   The French called her â€Å"La Perle Noire,† or â€Å"The Black Pearl† (Owens, 1976).   On the other hand,  Ã‚   the Italians referred to her as â€Å"La Gazzella Nera,† or â€Å"The Black Gazelle† (Owens, 1976). However, it was not only her remarkable skill and style of running that won the hearts of many fans.   Her simple and down-to-earth personality made people fall in love with her.   In places such as â€Å"Athens, London, Amsterdam, Cologne, Wuppertal, Frankfurt and Berlin† where she competed, numerous fans came to see her (Owens, 1976).   According to Sports Illustrated, police had to be employed to manage the fans in Cologne (Roberts, 2007).   On the other hand, Berlin welcomed Rudolph in a different way: admirers swarmed her bus and hit it with their fists to make Rudolph wave (Roberts, 2007).   Lastly, her shoes were stolen (Roberts, 2007).   On her part, she never failed to smile and greet the crowds that watched her; she also patiently responded to their inquiries (Owens, 1976). Aside from making history in the field of sports, Rudolph also paved the way for a historical moment in terms of race.   Buford Ellington, the governor of Tennessee, wanted to welcome Rudolph home after the Olympics (Roberts, 2007).   However, he believed in segregation; Rudolph obviously did not (Roberts, 2007).   She refused to show up to a segregated homecoming.   Fortunately for her and the town of Clarksville, Rudolph got what she wanted.   Rudolphs homecoming parade and banquet made Clarksville history as the first non-segregated event (Women in History, 2008).   Caucasians and African-Americans both had the opportunity to celebrate her Olympic success.   Her stand against segregation did not stop there; she also attended city protests until laws for segregation lost their effect (Women in History, 2008). After her Olympic victory, Rudolph became the recipient of numerous awards.   She became the recipient of The Babe Zaharias Award in 1962 (â€Å"Wilma Rudolph Biography,† n.d.).   In Dakar, Senegal, Rudolph also represented the United States as the Goodwill Ambassador at the Games of Friendship (Women in History, 2008).   Also that same year, she joined the Baptist Christian Athletes in Japan (Women in History, 2008).   In 1973, she was inducted in the Black Athletes Hall of Fame; the following year, she was included in the National Track and Field Hall of Fame (Roberts, 2007).   In 1983, she received two more honors: she was voted in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, while also receiving the Vitalis Cup for Sports Excellence (â€Å"Wilma Rudolph Biography,† n.d.).   In 1984, she was honored with Womens Sports Foundation Award (â€Å"Wilma Rudolph Biography,† n.d.) Then there were those honors that were special, in the sense that Rudolph became the first woman ever in history to receive such award or invitation.  Ã‚   In 1961, she was the first woman recipient of the Christopher Columbus Award for Most Outstanding International Sports Personality (â€Å"Wilma Rudolph Biography,† n.d.).   The year after that, she was given the James E. Sullivan award (Lovett, 1997).   She was the first American female athlete to be honored as the Sportsman of the Year by European sportswriters (Owens, 1976).   Lastly, she became the first woman invited to the 1961 Penn Relays, the New York Athletic Club Track Meet, and the Millrose Games (â€Å"Wilma Rudolph Biography,† n.d.). Life After Retirement In 1962, at the age of 22, Rudolph retired from track and field (Lovett, 1997).   She had several jobs upon her return to Clarksville.   She first taught at Cobb Elementary, her alma mater (Women in History, 2008).   She then replaced Coach Gray as the track coach of her high school alma mater, Burt High School (Women in History, 2008).   Her first collegiate coaching job was in Maine; next, she became the track coach of DePauw University in Indiana (Women in History, 2008; Roberts, 2007).   She spoke to many students, as she was often invited as guest speaker in numerous schools and universities (Women in History, 2008).   She also became radio show co-host, as well as a sports commentator on television (Women in History, 2008).  Ã‚   In 1967, Rudolph was asked by Vice-President Hubert Humphrey to become a part of a sports outreach program for underprivileged kids called â€Å"Operation Champ† (Women in History, 2008).  Ã‚   Because of this experience, she cre ated the Wilma Rudolph Foundation, a non-profit community sports program for amateurs (Roberts, 2007).   In 1977, she released her autobiography entitled â€Å"Wilma: The Story of Wilma Rudolph† (Lovett, 1997).   The book was eventually turned into a television movie (Women in History, 2008).   In 1992, Rudolph became the vice-president of the Baptist Hospital in Nashville (Lovett, 1997). Death In July 1994, a few months after her mothers passing, Rudolph discovered that she had brain cancer (Lovett, 1997).   That same year, Rudolph died on November 12th.   Five days after her death, a memorial was held at the Kean Hall in TSU.   Her funeral was held at the First Baptist Church in Clarksville; all the flags in Tennessee were at half-mast (Lovett, 1997). Legacy Through her accomplishments, Rudolph inspired many other female African-American athletes to fulfill their Olympic dreams.   One of them was Florence Griffith Joyner.   She followed Rudolphs footsteps and became the second woman to bring home three gold medals in the 1988 Olympics (Roberts, 2007).   Rudolph said, â€Å"I thought Id never get to see that.   Florence Griffith Joyner – every time she ran, I ran (â€Å"Wilma Rudolph Biography,† n.d.).   Jackie Joyner-Kersee was another woman athlete whose life was touched by Rudolph.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Joyner-Kersee was an Olympic winner; she has six medals (Roberts, 2007).   According to Joyner-Kersee, â€Å"She was always in my corner.   If I had a problem, I could call her at home.   It was like talking to someone you knew for a lifetime† (as cited in Roberts, 2007). Several places and structures were also named after Rudolph.   Her alma mater, Tennessee State University, also rewarded her by naming their indoor track for her (Lovett, 1997).   In 1994, a part of Clarksvilles Highway 79 was also named after her.   In addition, a historical marker was placed in that very boulevard (â€Å"Historical Marker,† 2003). Tennessee State University had built a new dormitory, which was dedicated in her memory on August 11, 1995.   Rudolph had a bronze statue of her finished on April 1996; that statue was placed in Clarksville (Lovett, 1997). In 1997, Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist declared June 23rd as Wilma Rudolph day (Women in History, 2008). In its March 2002 issue, Ebony Magazine included Rudolph as one of the â€Å"greatest women athletes† (â€Å"10 Greatest Women Athletes,† 2002).   Lastly, in 2004, the U.S. Postal Service issued a postage stamp in her honor, as recognition for her accomplishments in sports (â€Å"Ho noring Wilma Rudolph,†2004). â€Å"The triumph cant be had without the struggle† (as cited in â€Å"Wilma Rudolph Biography,† n.d.).   These are the words of a woman who initially lived a life of struggle, but triumphantly overcame the odds.   She indeed an inspiration to many; her life is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit. nbsp; References Desert News (Salt Lake City). (2003). Historical marker honors Olympian Wilma Rudolph.   Retrieved March 7, 2008, from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20030706/ai_n11411552 Ebony. (2002). 10 greatest women athletes. Retrieved March 7, 2008, from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_5_57/ai_83450358 International Olympic Committee. (n.d.) Wilma Rudolph: overcoming childhood handicaps.   Retrieved March 5, 2008, from olympic.org/uk/athletes/profiles/bio_uk.asp?PAR_I_ID=10427 Jet. (2004). Honoring Wilma Rudolph. Retrieved March 7, 2008, from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_7_106/ai_n6165658 Lovett, B. (1997). Wilma Rudolph and the TSU Tigerbelles. Leaders of Afro-American Nashville. Retrieved March 5, 2008, from EBSCO Database. Owens, J. (1976). Wilma Rudolph; gazelle of the track. The Saturday Evening Post. Retrieved March 5, 2008, from EBSCO Database. Roberts, M.B. (2007). Rudolph ran and the world went wild. ESPN.com.   Retrieved March 5, 2008, from http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016444.html Wilma Rudolph. Garden of Praise.   Retrieved March 5, 2008, from http://gardenofpraise.com/ibdwilma.htm Wilma Rudolph Biography.   Retrieved March 5, 2008, from wilmarudolph.net/more.html Women in History. (2008). Wilma Rudolph. Retrieved March 5, 2008, from lkwdpl.org/wihohio/rudo-wil.htm nbsp;

Free sample - The Power Corruption Cycle. translation missing

The Power Corruption Cycle. The Power Corruption CycleCorruption is a social evil, which not only hinders the growth of organizations but also strains the relationship between management and subordinate employees in the workplace. There is therefore a need for all skillful managers to remain within the bounds of ethics in resolving all organizational and workplace problems and in devising innovative strategies that ensure the firm’s continued growth. Research carried out by Transparency International identifies that corruption is propagated by managers through acceptance of bribes by those in power so as to facilitate services against company policy. Bribes may be received as monetary rewards or indirect gifts that are bound to influence the manager inappropriately. This is not only considered illegal but it also hurts economic development and eventually leads to lower product quality and standards. This therefore implies that inferior products and services are introduced in the market at the expense of consumers. Further, the managers end up making poor decisions and hold a poor perspective of employees which destroys the relationship between seniors and subordinates. The case against corruption and the misuse of power can in no way be better illustrated than by the ongoing global financial meltdown whose onset is solely attributed to the mortgage meltdown. Chief Executive Officers of renowned banks such as those on the Wall Street ignored all core ethics in their lending to customers. In fact, little or no collateral was required and minimal investigation was carried out as to the client’s repayment capacity as far as the clients ‘convinced’ those in power that they could meet the demands of the agreement. This has consequently resulted in the world’s worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. (Lahart, 2007) Like all other societal problems, corruption, due to the misuse of power by those in authority, can be stamped out. Various measures such as installing a vigilance system to monitor the relationship between managers and their clients have been proposed. Further proposals are in support of a system that evaluates the manager’s economic standing and compares it to the status and living standards enjoyed. However, the easiest way to stamp out corruption is by appealing to the manager’s moral institution and ethics in combating this detrimental vice. In today’s world, a vital tool in combating leadership problems in any workplace environment is emotional intelligence. It has been defined as the ability of an individual, in this case, the manager, to influence emotions by managing and assessing them in oneself as well as in other people such as employees so as attain the set goals of the organization. Therefore, the inherent relationship between leadership and emotional intelligence cannot be ignored. First, emotional intelligence is crucial in creating self-awareness in the leaders. They ably recognize feelings as they happen, perform accurate assessments and therefore attain self-confidence. Secondly, it ensures managers acquire self-regulation such that they can aptly keep disruptive emotions and impulses at bay, thereby gaining self-control, honesty and integrity. Thirdly, it ensures managers remain motivated, which is the driving force towards attainment of goals. This enables the manager to have a healthy achievement drive, commitment towards the organization’s vision, optimism in the face of obstacles and initiative by acting on available opportunities. Fourthly, emotional intelligence goes a long way in creating empathy whereby the manager is aware of employees’ needs, concerns, feelings and their fears. Finally, it imparts social skills whereby the manager can successfully induce favorable responses in the workforce through effective diplomacy, open communication and listening ability, inspiration, bonding, collaboration and co-operation so as to create group synergy towards achieving the set goals. (Goleman, 1995) Therefore, training managers as to the essence of emotional intelligence shall be more successful than any monitoring tactics installed. This is widely supported by studies as that done by Sosik and Megerian (1999) in which they evaluated the change brought about by emotional intelligence. Findings showed that the managers had radically transformed in their leadership behavior and performance outcomes while their employees felt that their superiors were more receptive, transparent and encouraging (Sosik, 1999). Transparency and accountability go a long way in ensuring that ethics are upheld in an organization therefore leading to a healthy working environment. This serves to illustrate that there is no other greater weapon against power induced corruption than emotional intelligence. References Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. New York: Bantam Books. Lahart, J. (2007). Egg Cracks Differ In Housing, Finance Shells . Wall Street Journal , 12. Sosik, J. J. (1999). Understanding Leader Emotional Intelligence and Performance. In Group Oraganization Management (pp. 367-390).

Addresssing human resource issues at Utiliscan Essay

Addresssing human resource issues at Utiliscan - Essay Example Human resource issues at Utiliscan identified by the survey. Paul, the former Director for Utilitiscan conducted a survey and th result revealed some troubling issue in the company that caused its employees to leave. The survey that Paul conducted reported that; Most employees view their job at Utilitiscan as career dead end. Meaning, most employees felt that their careers are not advancing in the company as Paul’s survey result revealed that 87% of the employees felt that there were no promotion opportunities in the company. 74% of the employees also felt that their pay does not increase even if they perform well. Employees were also complaining that performance appraisals were not done anymore. Some respondents commented that there were favoritism in the company. Most employees also no longer feel challenged by their jobs. This is corroborated by the fact that a resounding 89% of respondents also complaint that opportunities to grow and improve were rare in the company. 56 % of the employees felt that their non wage benefits were below industry standard. Only 55% of all employees felt safe working in Utilitiscan. Meaning, the other half or 45% felt that there is an occupational hazard associated with their physical environment and that safety is less than adequate. In sum, the problem of the employees at Utilitiscan was that they felt that their job is a career dead end without any prospect for advancement and non-challenging where there are no incentives to do a good job. The proposed conceptual plan as a solution to the problem Employees are leaving Utilitiscan, including the very person who conducted the survey which was Paul, because the company was perceived to be a dead end and that the jobs were boring thereby making employees not motivated to perform because there are no incentives available when they do a good job anyway. Thus, to address these issues, management has to; a. Make job interesting for the employees to engage b. Institute promotio nal plans for the career advancement for employees c. Provide incentive for good performance (including promotion) d. Perform performance appraisal to address the need for basis of incentive and to encourage high performance in the organization. These conceptual plan does not necessarily â€Å"breaks the bank† of Utilitiscan. Addressing the employees issue about their jobs as non-challenging by making their jobs interesting jobs do not have to cost the company a huge amount of money. This can be done through job-rotation whereby employees move through the various functions in the organization laterally doing functions other than they are accustomed to. This is consistent with the idea of a classical management theorist Frederick Herzberg that it is not only money that motivates people to work as what Taylor posits in his scientific management theory. Herzberg argued that it is intrinsic rewards such as challenging work and growth that gets employees motivated. True, pay can m ake people work better but they will only endure the drudgery of work until the next pay raise or promotion and will again be back to mediocre performance after taking the pay raise or promotion. This principle in motivating employees is corroborated by a more recent study conducted by Dan Pink. In his study, Pink illustrated how monetary rewards failed in motivating employees. It may sound baffling but the Pink experiment showed that the obvious does not always work. Giving monetary rewards as a basis for motivation on jobs that requires even the slightest cognitive skills such as the jobs of programmers and engineers in Utilitiscan do not always work. It can even be a source of demotivation as what Pink found out when he did the experiment of giving financial incentive to motivate people to do tasks that involves thinking. The same experiment was done in other countries and other cultures and the result are the same, money as an incentive is a demotivator to tasks that invol

Process Analysis about How to Write an A Paper Essay

Process Analysis about How to Write an A Paper - Essay Example In the book The Little Seagull Handbook the author talks about 7 easy initial steps to start working on the paper. Which are brainstorming, free writing, looping, clustering, questioning, keeping a journal and lastly starting up with some research (Bullock, Richard and Francine Weinberg, 7). Brainstorming, clustering and looping are all ways of jotting down the points that come to your mind about the topic so that before you start writing you have a bunch of points from which you can select and write. Questioning about the topic includes asking yourself what is your purpose of writing? Who the audience is? What the audience wants? Keeping these questions in mind you should research about the given topic. Once a student is done with the research the second most important thing that follows is the tone and the style of writing. Since college papers are a part of academic writing informal and elevated style of writing should completely be avoided. Your style should lie between a formal and informal style of writing using simple words. The tone of your writing should depend on the paper you are writing it could be persuasive in an argumentative essay or informative in a research paper that totally depends on the kind of paper one is writing. Fallacies are another thing that should be avoided while writing a paper. There are mainly three kinds of fallacies logical, ethical and emotional. Ineffective arguments that use logical, emotional or ethical fallacies detract the reader for writer’s credibility. It not only makes the paper ineffective but the reader will fail to trust the writing if he uses any fallacies and thereby the paper fails to fulfill its purpose. Examples of these fallacies are guilt by association, hasty generalizations, false analogy and many more. Redundancy- words that repeat the same idea is also adds to the negative for a paper. Examples of redundancies are, end result, circle around, final completion, exactly the same and many more. In t he book ‘Politics and English Language’ the author talks about usage of meaningless words in chapter 12 Language and Literacy. He talks about how some words lack in meaning and make the piece of writing an ineffective piece. He talks about words like democracy, socialism, freedom and patriotic. He says words like these have no agreed definition and therefore must be avoided (Orwell, George and Bruce Rogers, 795). Starting a paper seems the most difficult yet is the most essential part of a paper. It is often said first impression is the last impression; the introductory paragraph is like the first impression of your paper therefore it must be strong enough to grasp the attention of the reader. Your introductory paragraph includes your thesis statement which is like a road map for your essay it should be clear and to the point listing out the main points of your paper. The introduction of a paper should be interesting so that the reader continues to read the rest of it. People often start their papers with a quote from a famous person or generalized idea then lead in to the specific topics. To write an A grade paper, revision is the trick. You must write and rewrite your paper to improve the quality of the paper. Anne Lamott pays strong attention to the importance of first drafts in her piece ‘