Critical Thinking Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Critical Thinking Reflection - Essay Example Decline in SNAP benefits will translate to the government focusing on other essential economic projects meant to cushion favorable living standards instead of taxing citizens heavily in order to cater for supplementary issues. Mainly, this involves both exploring as well as thinking in such a way the predicament or situation facing a person normally appears different than how it would have had an initial pose. This is encompasses seeking alternatives in a move to obtain solutions after analyzing varied assumptions without hastily resulting to ungrounded judgments. In this case, assumption recognition usually entails lodging adequate scrutiny of varied beliefs, which underlie preferred choices meant to resolve a certain problem. Its application is extremely essential in both practical life and in resolving scholarly matters. Thinking skills such as creative and critical approach usually are helpful in aiding one express idea in a logical manner and contrary to what numerous people may be assuming is the best alternative in resolving a certain issue. Hence, bring about mental inquiry essential in being creative as well as innovative. However, these skills are not bound to one subject or field because one is able to think and solve problems in any way encountered. To ensure my use of critical thinking in future I need to focus on enhancing own critical approach in each aspect without accepting the ordinary way of perceiving situations. Therefore, I must at least get used to working out different problems during the days. Steenland, Sally. Faith in Values: How to Reduce Poverty and Save Taxpayers $4.6 Billion Per Year. Center for American Progress. 19Th March 2014. Web. 21St September 2014.

The Home Depot, Inc. Essay Example for Free

The Home Depot, Inc. Essay The Home Depot sells a wide assortment of building materials and home-improvement and lawn and garden products, and they provide a number of services such as design and installation. The stores serve three different types of customers: (1) Do-It-Yourself(D-I-Y) customer, (2) Do-It-For-Me (D-I-F-M) customer and (3) the professional customer, such as home improvement contractors, building maintenance professionals, interior designers, and other professionals. The Home Depot has expanded its business by acquisitions in the same and other markets. Legally, the company consists of a set of companies: Home Depot, EXPO Design Center, Home Depot Floor Store, Home Depot Landscape Supply, Home Depot Supply, Home Depot Mexico, and Home Depot Canada. In December 2000 Bob Nardelli was appointed to be CEO of the Home Depot. The founders were hoping that with the new CEO the company could continue to grow. However he succeeded in doing so, there were also some negative changes within the company. Among the negative changes, since the appointment of Nardelli, was the change of the corporate culture. The orange-blooded culture made room for a culture of fear. The orange-blooded cultureemphasized individuality, informality, nonconformity, growth, and pride. The new culture under the management of CEO Nardelli emphasized on building a disciplined manager corps, one predisposed to following orders, operating in high-pressure environments, and executing with high standards. This resulted in a decrease in moral among the employees and thus a lower customer service index. Other negative changes were the Human Resource management, the Agency Problem and the store location. The work staff changed from 90% full-time employees to only 68% and employee turnover was extremely high. Nardelli’s new format at the annual shareholder’s meeting was strongly criticized as well as the drop in the stock price tied with the change in his earnings metrics. The many new stores that were opened sometimes cannibalized sales of other stores owned by the Home Depot. In this report we will create a thorough internal analysis by looking at the strengths and weaknesses of the Home Depot and with this information we will create an IFAS Table. IFAS Table We as a team discussed our findings in the case on the Home Depot and listed the strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, we made an IFAS Table to measure its performance. We do this through weighting, rating and scoring each factor. The last column states a description of why this is a strength or weakness. Internal Factors| Weight| Rating| Score| Description| Strengths| | | | | Price amp; Supply| 0,25| 5| 1,25| Low price, no middle man cost, great sale results| Acquisitions| 0,15| 5| 0,75| Improve supply chain| CSR| 0,10| 4| 0,40| Environmentally aware and contribute to society| | | | | | Weaknesses| | | | | Agency Problem| 0,10| 2| 0,20| Changed earning metrics, new format meeting| Corporate Culture| 0,20| 2| 0,40| Orange-blooded culture turned into culture of fear| HRM| 0,10| 3| 0,30| Less full-time employees less experience employee turnover much too high| Store location| 0,10| 3| 0,30| Too suburban, 3 stores in 1 market area, cannibalization| | | | | | Total| 1,00| | 3,60| | As we can conclude from the table the company scores reasonably well with a total score of 3,60. This score is above company average standard, which is between 1 and 5 meaning 3. Even though, the Home Depot has some weaknesses and some negative changes have occurred since 2000, the company is performing reasonably well. Throughout the entire case we can see this in the high financial returns and the goals that are met. Weakness Agency Problem Earning Metrics Nardelli had changed the metrics of his compensation from according to the change in stock price to being based on the sales results. As we all know, a corporation’s prime goal is to maximize shareholders’ equity not sales, even profits. Nardelli was hired to work in the interests of the shareholders and should get compensations based on how well the share price went. After the change in the metrics, what did Nardelli work for? Who knows? The construction companies that built new Home Depot stores maybe. Under the new metric of earning, any manager could simply borrow money from the banks and build new stores and make acquisitions to enlarge sales volume which would not be necessarily good for the long-term growth of the company because getting bigger so rapidly leads to not only increasing revenue but also increasing costs in management and control, less centralization, more uncertainty, cannibalization, more complicated organizational structure that could cause problems in internal control and management and other negative effects of being big. However, under the new metrics, Nardelli didn’t have to think about those effects at all. That being so, who is still surprised about Home Depot’s sales performance going so well resulting in its stock price going down? Corporate Governance In such a big company like The Home Depot, there is usually a committee formed by independent directors to decide how much the CEO should be paid and more importantly how to calculate his bonus. Having 9 independent directors of 11 directors in the board, Home Depot didn’t have such a committee, or had one but didn’t take its responsibilities. More ridiculously, the CEO could decide how he was paid in this own wishes. At the annual shareholder’s meeting on May 2006, it happened so many strange things including Nardelli being the only director present, the time limit that each shareholder proposal was allow to be spoken and Nardelli’s refusal of answering questions. These were all evidences of poor corporate governance that made Nardelli able to work on his own interests much more than the interests of shareholders. Those non-management directors seemed not doing anything and receiving quite a good amount of compensation. Some even had been criticized being not independent enough. Corporate Culture The old culture and the new one were like two extremes. The old culture made employees working happily but too relax, which means not enough focus. The new military culture was even worse, making employees working with fear and hence declining their morale of working, eventually resulting in customer satisfactory going down. Lowe’s at the same time had grown a culture being demanding but low-profile, collaborative and collegial, which made their customers and employee very comfortable. Home Depot could have lost a number of customers to Lowe’s for this reason. Poor morale resulting from the new culture would also lead to more errors and mistakes in working hours. Like a former Home Depot stated which we agree, â€Å"Nardelli’s effort to measure customer service, instead of inspiring it, was to blame. † Store Location From 2000 and 2005, Home Depot opened more than 900 stores. During the fiscal 2005, the company opened 140 new Home Depot stores, including four relocations in the United States. Most of the U. S. Store opened in existing markets as the managements clustering strategy. However, the new store locations cased some problems. The management intentionally cannibalized sales of existing stores by opening two other stores in a single market area. According to management, approximately 20% of its stores were cannibalized by new stores in 2005. The older stores were being gradually replaced with new ones to add room for new merchandise, to increase selling space, and more parking areas. Since the company opened so many new stores, the store layout, appearance, and store productivity remains weak. Moreover, the new stores were located in suburban areas populated by members of the Home Depot target market. In a certain sense, the company will lose some potential customers, due to the location of the stores. Human Resource Management Human Resource Management could also be a weakness for Home Depot. The companys career development was formally addressed during semiannual performance reviews, with goals and development plans mutually set by employees and managers. Vacancy lists were prepared at the regional level and distributed to the stores. However, under Nardellis tenure, the employees were evaluated on the basis of four performance metrics: financial, operational, customer, and people skills. The employee population varied among stores, depending on size, sales volume, and the season of the year. Full-time employees had filled about 90% of the positions, but in 2005 filled only 68% of the positions. The decrease of full-employee employees lead to an increase of the employee turnover. In the first year of new stores operations, turnover could run 60% to 70% which was extremely high. The major causes of turnover were too many part-time employees who terminated for poor performance, and tradespeople who considered Home Depot an interim position, and students who returned to school. Recommendations Agency Problem For a big company that is included in Dow Jones Index such as The Home Depot, a well functioned compensation committee must not be missed in the system of corporate governance. We strongly recommend Home Depot organizing a compensation committee composed of independent directors that does its job seriously. As all the independent directors seemed not doing anything useful and some of them even had independence issues, we suggest shareholders propose a shareholders’ meeting and fire some of the independent shareholders that are possibly not sufficiently independent to the top management. The compensation included too much straight pays, too little for each meeting attended. We suggest the straight compensation dropping to $100,000 annually for each of the non-management directors, $50,000 cash and $50,000 stock units, and increasing payments for attending meetings to $5,000 for board meetings and $4,000 for committee meetings. If the above changes don’t work any reasons we could not foresee by now and the stock price of the company continues bearish, we suggest the shareholders fire Mr. Nardelli and change a CEO who has a record of working for the shareholders’ interests seriously. Corporate Culture Since the old also had obvious drawbacks, we would not recommend the culture going back to where it used to be. It would also be impossible since Nardelli had been such a military fan. Military culture does have its merits, building discipline and leading people working in good order. The suggestion here would be to hire more people that are military fans, either from schools, the society or from those retired soldiers. Moreover, solving such a number of retired soldiers’ employment, this would result in a good relationship with the government or even some government grants. The salary of the employees could be slightly higher than those who work in Lowe’s and other competitors. Although managing internally in a military way, it is not suggested to show a military atmosphere to customers because few people like to shop in an army. We cannot assure this would work because we don’t any examples of doing so in such a big firm. However, if it works, the outcomes could be surprisingly good, better customer service, a cool place to work at and good relationship with the government which is valuable in every country. Another piece of advice as an alternative is to combine the discipline of the military culture with the individuality, informality, nonconformity, growth, and pride that were emphasized in the old culture. Store Location Since Home Depot opened a large number of new stores, the store layout, appearance, and store productivity remains weak. The company should focus on the improvement of the store productivity by positioning well-trained employees and store managers into the new stores. Furthermore, the stores were placed in suburban areas which is not that convenient for a group of customers. We recommend the company to improve the online shopping service. Human Resource Management Since the employees changed from 90% full-time employees to only 68% and the employee turnover was extremely high. The high employee turnover hurts a companys bottom line. It will costs upwards of twice an employees salary to find and train a replacement, and it will damage morale among remaining employees. The company should embarked on decreasing turnover and increasing retention. We could recommend the following steps: * Hire the right people and concentrated on effective caress development. The company should have an ongoing career development program which is a continuing cycle. Always hiring the people that really fit wit the organization- the companys value, culture, goals, etc. Moreover, skill training program is also important, training is a necessary part that will ensuring employee loyalty and retention. * Level the percent of full-time and part-time employees. The company should hire less part-time employees to decrease the turnover. Part-time employees often leave if offered full-time employment by another company, and possibly creating turnover problem. However, full-time employees are more likely to develop company loyalty and improve the performance of the corporation. Conclusion After analyzing the case, we can see that The Home Depot, Inc. was a company with high net sales and extremely well ranking among the world. After Bob Nardelli appoint to be the CEO of the Home Depot, he has brought the company keep going well, even with some negative changes, as corporation culture modified and the change of human resource management. We believe that it is very necessary to reform the problems of the management. Especially about decrease the governance power of Bob Nardelli and organize a board of independent directors. Meanwhile, change the structure of employees is also should on the company’s plan list. However, the defects don’t outweigh the merits. We clearly see that the company remains a lot of strengths. Strong brand awareness and conscientious social responsibility help Home Depot to keep its good reputation; meanwhile, wise international strategy and low price make the company to maintain good revenue. We are not doubt the Home Depot will keep maintain its current strengths and with a bright future, but with these necessary changes will definitely make the company better.

American Intervention in WWII Essay -- World War II

World War II is generally viewed to be a moral war, or, as Howard Zinn would put it, â€Å"a good war.† This conventional impression of World War II results from American propaganda, along with misinterpretations of related events. Quite the contrary, the United States’ foreign policy, especially during World War II, was driven by imperialist goals rather than humanitarian concern. These foreign interventions are usually justified using political ideologies that advocate the spread of democracy but the United States government fails to act in the interests of the common people in other countries; instead, the US government intervened in foreign countries to protect its own needs and those of its private corporations. In addition, the United States faced competition from other countries, Japan for example, and was naturally pressured into maintaining its superiority internationally. In order to preserve its power, the American government used its ties with Europe to try and amass as much power needed. In the end, this American competition with Japan, American relationship with Europe and the civil injustices within the US prove that this war, as good as it may seem, was motivated by imperialist objectives. American intervention in World War II is generally viewed as a positive act because, as Howard Zinn described, â€Å"It was a war against an enemy of unspeakable evil. Hitler’s Germany was extending totalitarianism, racism, militarism and overt aggressive warfare†; by merely entering the war, the United States gives off an impression of compassion and interest in the welfare of other people. American reaction to Mussolini, for example, demonstrated that, on a rather superficial scale, the United States did in fact attempt to h... ...Pain of WWII Interned Japanese Americans†. BBC. 2009. Web. March 29th 2012. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17080392. Grevin, James. â€Å"History of US Foreign Policy since World War II.† Internationalism. 2004. Web. March 30th 2012. http://en.internationalism.org /ir/113_us_policy.html N/A. â€Å"How did Participation in America’s Wars affect Black Americans?†. American Studies Today Online. 2007. Web. March 28th 2012. http://www.americansc. org.uk/Online/Woodland.htm Office of the Historian. â€Å"The Atlantic Conference and Charter, 1941†. US Department of State. Web. March 30th 2012. http://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/AtlanticConf. Steven. â€Å"World War II: A People’s War?†. Libcom. 2009. Web. March 27th 2012. http://libcom.org/history/world-war-ii-peoples-war-howard-zinn Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of the United States. New York: Harper Collins,.2003.

American International Group

AIG holding company deals with insurance as well as other activities that are related to insurance in America with its operations through several subsidiaries. The primary activities of the company incorporate the general insurance as well as life insurances and the operation services dealing with retirement. The company also undertakes financial services as well as financial management. The operating segments of the company allows for the provision of insurance, the provision of services as well as products to business bodies and the individuals alike in over 130 countries together with their jurisdictions.The company was involved in a sale of about a half of its stakes in the city airport of London. The company also made a sale of the security portfolios that backs the residential mortgage to Maiden Lane (David & John 7). AIG happened to be on of the reputable insurance organizations in America just prior to the sudden collapse of the company around the ninth month of 2008. The act ual cause of the collapse was a heavy weight involving bad debts as a result of the insurance that the company made against securities backed by mortgages.Federal Reserve initially took the initiative of bailing the company with an infusion involving over eighty five billion US dollars. Despite of this initiative, the trend of the losses was on the increase leading to the announcement by the treasury of a fresh rescue package in November of the same year. This package was a result of the escalating cost to the extent of US $ 150 billion (The NY Times par. 1). On the third month of 2009, the federal states government made an agreement for the provision of an extra US $ 30 billion to the company with more soft terms.The extent of the loan was on the upward side and the extent of the loss of the company was in the tune of US $ 61. 7 billion (The NY Times par. 2). This was a mega loss on a quarterly basis that was recorded in history. In its history, the company received an intervention from the American government for four times for the purpose of the aversion of its bankrupsy. The interventions have resulted to the escalation of the government shares in the company to the extent of 80%. The interventions occurred in the form loans amounting to over US $ 60 billion, preferred shares acquisition amounting to US $ 40 billion.An additional US $ 50 billion was invested in the company with the objectives of soaking up of the toxic assets of the company (The NY Times par. 2). This company was faced by outrage of significant magnitude on the realization of the fact that bonuses amounting to over US$ 165 million had been paid in the recent past to the members involved in the unit of trade that was instrumental to the collapse of the company. This was an incident that took place in the 15th day of March. This prompted President Obama to direct the treasury to assess the possibility of the blockage of the payments as well as its recovery (The NY Times par.4). This was foll owed by a hearing composed of a highly emotional congress led by the chief executive Edward Liddy. The executive requested all of the employees whose annual income is above US $ 100 000 who had participated in the payout of the bonus to refund half of it. This had the reflection of the disgust the public as well as the political arena were exposed to due to the action of rewarding the individuals who took part in the collapse of the company and distressing the economy. Majority of them expressed their desire to refund the full amount of what they had been awarded (The NY Times par.6). Although this company has its roots in the United States, its origin is actually Asia. The founder of the company was a veteran of the First World War named Cornelius V. Stars. The focus of the company in 1960 was the increments of the share of the company of the business of life insurance as well as writing unusual coverage. These include examples of kidnapping insurance as well as protection suits by the officers and the directors of companies. The problems of this company have their accommodation in the financial units that are based in London.The group offering financial services ties the security and value of the homes of the vendor. The decline in the value of the homes as well as the value of the mortgages was the contributing factor of the problems of the company. The distress of the company was preceded by the unusual period associated with turmoil (The NY Times par. 12). The early part of 2005 was characterized by questions regarding the company’s financial transaction that brought about the improvement of the earnings of the company.The complex structure of the company as well as its aggressive approach is a reflection of the company’s determination for the creation of an empire of a global standard whose operations were to complement the business (The NY Times par. 12). Works Cited The NY Times. American International Group 26th March 2009 March 19 2009 David, Frost. John, Greenya. American International Group. NY: U. S. News and World Report, 1988.

Attitudes Towards Women In World War II Essay

1. Source C is written by a Historian, this means that she will have had a long time to gather together her facts, and write using a variety of sources. This will give the source more depth, and it could also include information from more than one source. However, it is written by a woman, who is commenting on the history of women, so it could therefore be slightly bias. This woman could be writing to prove a point, or get recognition for women (i.e. for a feminist movement). On the other hand, source D was a speech made by the Deputy Prime minister of Britain in 1942. It is highly likely that this speech would have been used as a form of propaganda in Britain to keep the moral of women up during the war. They needed to do this to encourage the women to sign up to work in the factories, as the men were away fighting on the battlefields. It is evident in the tone of the source that the government were falsely praising the women to keep them happy. It was a very dull job, and they were trying to make the work they did sound positive, ‘preformed with dead accuracy by girls..’ It is evident that in source C the author is analysing the source, and giving her opinion. ‘Such derogatory remarks†¦.’ It seems that she is giving a very opposed opinion to the magazine article she is commenting on, and all the information that this gives the reader is her opinion of they way women were portrayed at that time. Despite the fact that we do get some quotes from the source she is analysing, we are only given the selection she chooses, and she has chosen those particular parts to back up her opinion. It does appear that women were depicted during the Second World War as ’empty-headed frivolous creatures.’ However, this is only part of the source, and we cannot get the full picture, as the author has picked out certain parts to back up her opinion. The original might depict a different opinion, but we are unable to find that, as we are not given that here in source C. Source D gives us the impression that women were viewed as very skilled, and they could pick up things very quickly, ‘precise engineering jobs†¦ would have made a skilled turners hair stand on end are preformed with dead accuracy by girls who had no industrial experience.’ However this seems very strange, because the general opinion by men during the Second World War was that women were un-skilled and should stay in the home, so it appears that the government were lying to women (i.e. propaganda) so that they could fill in the jobs for men when they were away. The speech was made at the peak of the war, and it would have been crucial that they had enough women to work in the factories. To summarise, I think that source C is more useful as evidence about attitudes towards women in the First World War, as it depicts a more realistic view of what people thought at the time. Women were viewed as insignificant, and more concerned about how they looked. Although it is a bias opinion from a female historian trying to back up her views, it does seem a more historically accurate. Source D could not be used as an accurate view, as it is government propaganda, purposely being used to keep the moral of women high. 2. Source G is being used as an advertisement for Female wardens, and ‘Mrs Peek’s pudding.’ It also seems to be being used to make men more comfortable with their wife’s going into service. It appears to be a form of propaganda; therefore, it is less reliable as a source of information. The first window in the cartoon strip shows a man sitting at the table with his wife eating a meal. In most situations this would not be the case, as men were usually sent away to fight. This does appear to make the advert less accurate. This source shows that men only thought women were useful for putting the meal on the table, or at least it was their duty to do so. The husband in the first caption states ‘cold dinner again!’ as if it was his wife’s duty to provide him with a hot meal every night. The following caption quotes the wife saying ‘oh dear, I’ll have to resign from the post, I just can’t get Jim a hot meal at night.’ Here we see that the woman is hanging on by every word that the man tells her, as if he was superior to her. This very much depicts the attitude that men had to their wives at that time. The last box on the cartoon strip quotes the man saying ‘I guess you’ve resigned your job?’ here we find the man expecting the woman to drop everything that she does, so that she may be of service to him. The woman replies, ‘†¦Mrs Peek is looking after your dinner.’ Again we find the man being superior to the woman. I think that overall this source depicts well the attitude of men towards women in the Second World War. The man expects the woman to drop everything so that she may be of service to him, and that her job does not mean any thing, and the woman seems to agree with it as she knows no other. The only thing that makes the source less reliable is that it seems to be a form of propaganda. 3. When World War II came around, every man In Britain was encouraged to sign up to the forces, and fight for their country, or join some line of service. Originally only men had been asked to sign up, and it was out of the question to ask women to, as they had no skills in work, they were just useful around the home. However, it had not occurred to them that there was going to be a shortage of people to work on the farms, and in the factories when the men had left to go and fight. The government were left with no other option than get the women to fill in the spaces; ‘the women were conductors on the buses taking over until the men came home again’ (source F) Before the war women had fought hard for equal rites, and when the war started it seemed like a great opportunity had opened up. Most women were happy to start with, but then they were treat badly, and they were most definitely not treat with the same respect men were. ‘The people in the country were very resentful, they didn’t make it easy for you, we weren’t really welcome.’ It was hard work for the women, they had been put into hard jobs with no training, but they seemed to manage it, ‘preformed with dead accuracy by girls who had no industrial training.’ It was a new experience for women, and they had been launched straight into it unexpectedly. Before the war a lot of women were happy not to work, but due to the war, they were forced to sign up. This came as a shock to a lot of women. Source J is evidence of this, it shows a copy of an official government announcement to women stating: ‘there must no longer be any doubt in anybody’s mind that every available woman in Britain will have to serve to win this war.’ It wasn’t a decision they could make themselves any more, it was a duty to their country. Despite all of the new opportunities that had been given to women, after the war the men started coming back, and they took back their jobs too. ‘The end o this war brought many unheard and undreamt changes.’ All of the opportunities they had been given had been taken away from them, and it became clear to women that they had only been there to fill in the gaps when the men were away fighting. At first, the war seemed a great opportunity for women to get recognition, and they thought that they had eventually earned what they were fighting for. However they soon realised that they were just there to fill in the space of the men, and when the men got back, they were pushed out of the jobs. It did bring about changes for them at first, but only during the war. When the war was over, everything went back as it had originally been, however, it had made people realise that women were actually capable of doing the work that the men did, and it opened a lot of paths for the future.

Holistic Cures for Depression essays

Holistic Cures for Depression essays There are more than 14 million Americans on antidepressants. That is one out of every ten people in the United States. Consequently, only twenty five percent of people with depression have access to treatment. Therefore, a holistic approach is one way to handle depression, other than treating with antidepressants. Besides, Antidepressants can have serious side effects including, weight gain, lowering the libido, and can cause manic disorders which can lead to suicide. A lifestyle change is more effective when treating depression than with antidepressants; in fact, depression medications can do more harm than good. Introducing a change in diet is one way to help with depression. Specialists agree that a healthy diet full of good food such as fruits, vegetables, and lean meats, can have mood calming effects. Certain foods can raise the serotonin levels in the brain which help boost mental health. Also, be aware that processed foods can have a negative effect on blood sugar levels. Although caffeine and sugary snacks are a nice treat once in a while, they only give a temporary boost; so why not eat something healthy and mood up lifting instead? Lets not forget, that eating healthy will also keep the weight off. Consequently, a healthier approach is one way to deal with depression. Additionally, exercise is a great tool for reducing depression with positive results. Exercise is a great alternative to antidepressants, and there are no side effects. Research shows, that like medication, exercise gives the same biochemical change with no adverse side effects. Dopamine, a brain chemical released during exercise, can have the same effect as an antidepressant. In addition, there really is no downside to exercising and it has great benefits; in fact, studies show that being active can give your brain the boost it needs to fight depression. Another big plus to exercise is the desired boost to the libido. It is a well-known fact; exe...

Tuscaloosa County School District Emergency Operations Plan in Alabama

Tuscaloosa County School District Emergency Operations Plan in Alabama The Current State Of Affairs Regarding the Fourth Phase of the Tuscaloosa County School District Emergency Operations Plan in Alabama Student/parent information guide for Tuscaloosa county schools This student/parent guide by Hinton (2010) depicts that the Tuscaloosa county school district has laid down some systems that are already working. These include:Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Tuscaloosa County School District Emergency Operations Plan in Alabama specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Parent involvement policy: The school has incorporated a parent-involvement policy that accommodates parents as ‘full partners’ in all decisions made affecting their children and availing community resources aimed at boosting school programs, accommodating family practices, as well as enhancing the students’ well being. Insurance program; The school has an effective insurance program in place that is mandatory f or all students. The insurance covers are affordable and cater for all accidental injuries sustained in the premises, including those inflicted during athletics. Crisis management plan;- the school is assisted by community agencies, for instance the Sheriff’s department, The emergency Management agency, among others to manage any perceived or real crises and to minimize any resultant adverse effects. Fire drills are conducted monthly within the school, with exit plans vividly displayed in all student-occupied rooms Tornado drills are also held almost quarterly, and in compliance with the Management Agency guidelines. A thunderstorm watch and warning guidelines are adhered to in accordance with the approved Emergency Management PlanAdvertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Criminal penalties; The school has effectively laid down rules and regulation to handle errant behavior li ke vandalism, possession of drugs, possession of illegal arms etc. This in essence lays down violence prevention strategies at the school. Address of ‘Severe Weather information frequently asked questions’ Hinton (2011) showcases some ‘Frequently asked questions’ on severe weather. This is another system set up by the school that is working. Its aim is to answer queries by concerned people on its preparedness for disasters attributed to adverse climatically changes. The school clarifies that it does not rely solely on TV for updates on changing weather but has other resources; and to prepare for the changes , its Central Office personnel keenly follow the weather forecasts which is broadcast via ‘Emergency Alert Radio System, NOAA Radio’ and even through text messages several days beforehand. On occasions of severe whether (the actual days), updates are received via ‘Southern Linc. communications, media and storm spotters.’ On such days, any public transport is warned as such via ‘VHF two-way radio.’ Areas needing improvement In my opinion, insurance policies should be spread to cover damage of student property caused by tornadoes, fires and other natural hazards; it is also important to put up constructions, preferably underground which cannot easily be damaged by natural disasters. I am also convinced that the school can go a long way offering fire and tornado drills beyond the schools to include neighboring communities who in most cases are also affected. Intensive training on the crisis management plan should also be all inclusive, that is the parents, students and communities too should be enlightened on this. Emergency plans goes way beyond weather changes to include violence in schools, as such sensitization should be done to all concerned to safeguard against crime and violence, and instead ethical and moral behavior should be taught and encouraged.Advertising We will write a cust om essay sample on Tuscaloosa County School District Emergency Operations Plan in Alabama specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More References Hinton J.R. (2010).Tuscaloosa county school system: Severe weather information. Retrieved from www.tcss.net/Default.asp?PN=FAQSL=1. Hinton J.R. (2011). Student/ parent information guide for Tuscaloosa county schools. Retrieved from images.schoolinsites.com/SiSFiles/Schools/AL/Tuscaloosa

Converting Feet to Meters - Conversion Example Problem

Converting Feet to Meters Problem This example problem demonstrates how to convert feet to meters. Feet is the English (American) unit of length or distance, while meters are the metric unit of length. Convert Feet to Meters Problem The average commercial jet flies around an altitude of 32,500 feet. How high is this in meters? Solution 1 foot 0.3048 metersSet up the conversion so ​that the desired unit will be canceled out. In this case, we want m to be the remaining unit.distance in m (distance in ft) x (0.3048 m/1 ft)distance in m (32500 x 0.3048) mdistance in m 9906 m Answer 32,500 feet is equal to 9906 meters.Many conversion factors are difficult to remember. Feet to meters would fall into this category. An alternate method to perform this conversion is to use multiple easily remembered steps.1 foot 12 inches1 inch 2.54 centimeters100 centimeters 1 meterUsing these steps we can express a distance in meters from feet as:distance in m (distance in ft) x (12 in/1 ft) x (2.54 cm/1 in) x (1 m/100 cm)distance in m (distance in ft) x 0.3048 m/ftNote this gives the same conversion factor as above. The only thing to watch out for is for the intermediate units to cancel out.

American History - 'Reconstruction succeeded in reintegrating the Essay

American History - 'Reconstruction succeeded in reintegrating the union, but the attempt to grand civil rights to the country - Essay Example The presidents that assumed office thereafter continued with the same trend though they were more sympathetic to the white South. The Republican Radicals were not happy with the presidential Reconstructions hence decided to take over the mandate themselves through the congress. Although congressional Reconstruction was moderate it managed to secure some civil and political rights for the blacks especially through the push of Republican Radicals. The issue of most contention during this period was the social rights which most of the Americans believed should be earned through hard work and not through legislations. In the end, the question that needs to be answered is; were Reconstruction goals achieved? This paper will argue that although Reconstruction succeeded in reintegrating the union, the attempt to grant civil rights to the country’s black population was already lost by 1877. This is because although Black rights were afforded through the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the US constitution and the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1875, much of it was reversed by the Jim Crow laws with the blessing of the Supreme Court. The terror groups such as Ku Klux Klan, Red Shirts and White League also did not give opportunity to the blacks to enjoy their rights. This was further worsened by the union of Northerners and Southerners at the expense of black rights. 100 years after the end of slavery, racial inequality still persisted and continues to haunt Americans to date. Abraham Lincoln in his inaugural speech stated clearly his plans for Reconstruction of the South even before the war had ended. By 1863, the confederates had already accepted defeat and were waiting to be reprimanded by the Union. However, civil the war ended in 1865. Lincolns Reconstruction was very moderate and lenient. In December 1863 he made a proclamation of amnesty and Reconstruction granting pardon to those who took oath to support the constitution of United States and the Union of s tates.1 He also established provisional governments which were to be under executive control. The only individuals exempted from amnesty were those who aided in the rebellion especially confederate army and navy. Conspicuously missing in oath-taking, voting and holding office in the new governments were the blacks. This is despite his declaration that â€Å"the restoration of Rebel states to the union must rest upon the principle of civil and political equality of both races†.2 This clearly indicates that the intention of Reconstruction from onset was the unity of the union while the black rights were relegated to the background. The emancipation proclamation of 1863 freeing all slaves had given hope to the blacks that their condition would improve but this was just rhetoric. According to Kenneth Stamp a great historian, Lincolns hope was to persuade a great mass of blacks to leave the country although his views had changed by 1865 when he was assassinated. By this time, he b elieved blacks could become integral part of American life.3 He faced his death due to his insistence on abolition of slavery especially in the south. After him came Andrew Johnson in 1865. The reign of Johnson was filled with many gains as well as losses. Many Republicans had high hopes that he would deliver the promise of racial equality and punish the rebel states. His hatred for the South planter class was apparent and in

SKILLS AND LEARNING STATEMENT (SLS) Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

SKILLS AND LEARNING STATEMENT (SLS) - Assignment Example With further discussions, I chose HDFC (Housing Development and Finance Corporation) India as the bank on which my RAP will be focused. The bank had currently undergone an ICT innovation initiative for improving its performance and increasing its customer’s base (Rajan, 2010). My objective was to evaluate the bank’s performance before and after the introduction of the integrated multichannel in its operations. In the meeting with my project mentor, we discussed my strengths and weaknesses. I discovered that I was technically strong in literature writing however I was worried about the project analysis .With the help of my mentor, I outlined the structure of the project and he suggested ways to acquire information about the research project. According to him, the RAP should have a suitable structure, illustrative, conciseness, clarity with factual accuracy. Before my second meeting with my mentor, I was prepared with the draft of my project. My project was almost over an d I was just left with the conclusion and recommendation part. After going through the draft of my RAP, my mentor identified some errors on the referencing and Part one of the RAP. According to my mentor, the drafted RAP does not fully explain the reasons for choosing my project topic area and neither provided him with an understanding of the overall framework. He guided me with more information and asked me to make amendments but assured me that the overall approach of the project was satisfactory. He assured me the timetable I have been following is good enough to meet my project deadline. The reassurance and encouragement that the project approach is going on the right direction, helped my confidence. In third meeting with my mentor, I gave a presentation of my project. Before this meeting I had already provided my mentor with the draft of my RAP. This meeting included a 15 minutes presentation. The presentation helped overcome my fear of speaking in public and enhanced my orator y skill. I am an introvert and often stay behind in company’s meetings. I was overcome with fear during the presentation to my mentor and his partner. In the presentation, my mentor recommended some changes. He advised me to keep the language totally business-oriented without use of colloquial terms. The language had to be lucid as well as professional. My mentor commented on my nervousness. There were certain changes he recommended for example, the colour combination, referencing, structure, evidences and outcomes. He mentioned that timing is an important factor to consider in presentations. The presentation enhanced my communication skills and made me learn how to conduct while presenting a project- one should be aware of the right gesture, facial expression and stances. The presentation enabled me to exercise introspection and I am now confident that I can take a lead in office meetings. 2. How well do you think that you have answered your research question(s)? While doing the RAP I had proposed four research questions. Research questions are very important, as they determine the formal aim of the study. The research questions formulated by me clearly stated what the study is going to investigate and efforts had been made by me to address the questions properly. The first proposed research question is â€Å"

Thin film lab Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Thin film lab - Essay Example Introduction: This experiment involves the usage of a physical vapor deposition technique known as evaporation. Physical vapor deposition, or PVD for short, is a term used to denote vacuum deposition processes where the coating material is passed into a vapor transport phase by a physical mechanism such as evaporation, sputtering or others, and the coating material then gets deposited onto a substrate surface to which it is transported (Thornton, 1988). Evaporation is one of the PVD techniques which have been used for film deposition since Faraday’s (1857) time. The age of this technique dictates clearly that a lot of work has been done in this field, specifically on developing coatings on glass. This involves substrate cleaning, followed by choosing a method for evaporation of target, and running the test under vacuum for a calculated time to obtain a certain thickness of film growth (Bach and Krause, 1997; Jackson and Ford, 1981). The intricacies of the method and the theory behind it are discussed in the next section. Theory: Evaporation deposition technique involves three essential steps (Pulker, 1999): 1. Evaporation of target material to obtain vapors for deposition. 2. Transport of vapors to substrate for deposition. This requires very low pressures as high mean free paths are required to assure the close-to-linear deposition of the film. 3. Adsorption of vapors on substrate surface leading to heterogeneous nucleation film growth. This section will deal with the theory behind the methods used to conduct the above mentioned three steps in the experiment that we conducted in the lab. The first step, evaporation, was carried out through Joule heating using a tungsten filament. Joule heating, in simple terms, is resistance heating, done through using wires of high resistance R which generate heat Q when current I is passed through them for time t. They follow the mathematical relation (Weisstein, 1996-2007) given below: This heat is utilized for heati ng our target material. The choice of the heating wire depends on resistance, which needs to be high for high heat generation. Tungsten filaments are usually used for this purpose, though tantalum or molybdenum may also be used (Ohring, 1992). Special purpose evaporation techniques also use electron beam evaporation. The target to be evaporated is wrapped around the filaments or shaped in hollow cylinders to place the filament inside them. Once the evaporation is carried out, the next important step is to get the material transported to the substrate surface. This depends on the mean free path of the gas molecules in the chamber. Mean free path is the average distance that a molecule travels in a gas chamber between two consecutive collisions (Nave, 2010). This is mainly dependent on the pressure and the kinetics of flow of the gas. Both pressure and temperature adversely affect the mean free path of a gas. For uniform deposition, we require high mean free path, so that the particle s can get transported to the surface of the substrate evenly (Ohring, 1992). Adsorption of the transported species on the substrate surface is a very interesting science, involving both thermodynamics and kinetics, indicating how the type of the growth of the surface layer, its morphology, the nucleation rate, the growth rate and the microstructure can be influenced by small changes in the conditions. These may involve surface cleanliness, substrate preheating, plasma

How does CRM help companies with their customers Term Paper

How does CRM help companies with their customers - Term Paper Example Thus, on the basis of such application of information, the store is able to offer its clientele targeted coupons and additional programs that will motivate its consumers to purchase more products from that store (Connick; Turban, Leidner and McLean). In addition, the customer relationship management is an information industry paradigm intended for software, methodologies and especially the Internet service that facilitates a company to manage customer relationships in a well-organized way (Williams; Turban, Leidner and McLean). This paper will discuss some of the important aspects of customer relationship management and how CRM help companies with their customers. The basic purpose of this research is to assess the potential influence of effective CRM policies, technologies and strategies for building better customer services for any business. Customer Relationship Management Systems In the past, the customers’ data were stored in various remote systems in a variety of functio nal departments, for instance, sales, finance, distribution, and marketing. On the other hand, the emergence of e-commerce created huge amounts of customer data that were not incorporated with the data in the service area of the information system. Thus, the CRM applications were created in an attempt to deal with these issues by offering information and tools to bring a better customer experience and to maximize the time customer value for an organization. Basically, the CRM puts together customers’ data from a variety of corporate departments, evaluate these data, and then offer the results to both customers and employees touch points. In this scenario, a customer touch point can be any method to communicate with the customer for instance, email, telephone or fax (Turban, Leidner and McLean; Stair and Reynolds). However, we will make a mistake if we consider the customer relationship management as simply a software system or solution. Without doubt, customer relationship ma nagement can offer the companies a wide variety of tools and techniques to effectively manage and monitor clients. However, CRM is as well a viewpoint, a strategic method for recognizing the requirements of the organization’s customers. In fact, the effective management of a customer’s requirements directs toward customer satisfaction. In addition, if an organization does not link itself with the trends of always growing marketplace, not expecting and responding to its customers, it fails to survive. In addition, a business is not able to construct preference for a product if its customers’ requirements and desires are not precisely understood and satisfied. In this scenario, in the approved manner implemented CRM solutions can be an influential tool that businesses can utilize to build brand preference, and make their customers happy (SageAsiaPac). The Applications of CRM Systems The majority of CRM applications and service packages exist to help organizations manage the customer relationship process. In fact, salespeople are likely to consider of these computer applications as the be-all and end-all of customer relationship management. On the other hand, customer relationship management has at the present turned into a great deal broader as compared to a computer; actually, it has been present in one form or another

A Case For Life After Death Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A Case For Life After Death - Essay Example The traumas of separation and loss of parental support and love during her early years stayed with Betty, and she married at a young age and very quickly had a family of own (12). Although Betty’s first marriage failed, she and her children entered a second marriage that was successful and loving (2). It was well into her second marriage, and after a sixth child, that Betty entered the hospital for a hysterectomy and experienced death (28). Betty’s recollections of that experience are vivid and detailed (28-133), and solidified Betty’s perception of God as warm and loving (43). It is, however, in the details of Betty’s recollections where we establish the similarities between death experiences and past life recollections. Betty’s death experience begins with the realization that she is dead, floating above her body (28). Betty was not alarmed by seeing herself as a dead body, and, in fact, had a sense of â€Å"[†¦] sympathy for it. It appeared younger and prettier than I remembered, and now it was dead (27).† Hovering above her lifeless body, Betty’s sadness for it was followed by a sense of freedom (28). â€Å"My sense of freedom was limitless and it seemed as if I had done this forever,† she reports (28). Betty’s death experience seemed endless (28-58), and, years later, when Betty met with her attending physician, she discovered that in fact no one could say for just how long Betty had been clinically dead (133). But during the experience, Betty gained knowledge and insight as to her life and family (34), and God and creation.

Answer to legal problem questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Answer to legal problem questions - Essay Example While in the case of Daniels V. Anderson6 involving similar facts, Daniels counter-sued by alleging that the Board failed to discharge their duty of care and diligence. The Court held that auditors and executive directors are liable in negligence since they had no mechanism in place allowing the directors to monitor the audit which contributed to failure to report the irregularities. Further, it ruled that the test for the breach of duty of care was objective. The court laid down mandatory duties for directors: to acquire basic standard of understanding of the company’s business; under a continuing obligation to keep informed of the company’s activities; undertake a â€Å"general monitoring† of the company’s affairs; and understand the financial status of the company. The case of ASIC V Rich7 affirmed the decision in Daniels8 line of cases regarding the required duty of care and skill among directors. While the case of Clark9 held that there is a â€Å"co re, irreducible requirement† of involvement among directors in the management of the corporation which prohibits â€Å"sleeping or passive directors†. Applying these cases, the suit filed by the auditor against DD, WW and SS shall prosper for failure to exercise the standard of care and diligence required under S180. Their negligence caused damage to NatureWorld for failure to monitor the financial condition of the company and to conduct a â€Å"general monitoring† of the company’s affairs. The Corporation should file a case against the auditor, DD, WW and SS, as executive directors for breaching the standard of care and diligence required under S180, which provides a civil liability provision, for the damage incurred by the corporation brought about by such breach. Facts/Issues: One of the employees of the company, Noi Dea was negligent while conducting a tour,

A Case For Life After Death Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A Case For Life After Death - Essay Example The traumas of separation and loss of parental support and love during her early years stayed with Betty, and she married at a young age and very quickly had a family of own (12). Although Betty’s first marriage failed, she and her children entered a second marriage that was successful and loving (2). It was well into her second marriage, and after a sixth child, that Betty entered the hospital for a hysterectomy and experienced death (28). Betty’s recollections of that experience are vivid and detailed (28-133), and solidified Betty’s perception of God as warm and loving (43). It is, however, in the details of Betty’s recollections where we establish the similarities between death experiences and past life recollections. Betty’s death experience begins with the realization that she is dead, floating above her body (28). Betty was not alarmed by seeing herself as a dead body, and, in fact, had a sense of â€Å"[†¦] sympathy for it. It appeared younger and prettier than I remembered, and now it was dead (27).† Hovering above her lifeless body, Betty’s sadness for it was followed by a sense of freedom (28). â€Å"My sense of freedom was limitless and it seemed as if I had done this forever,† she reports (28). Betty’s death experience seemed endless (28-58), and, years later, when Betty met with her attending physician, she discovered that in fact no one could say for just how long Betty had been clinically dead (133). But during the experience, Betty gained knowledge and insight as to her life and family (34), and God and creation.

Scientific Arguments For and Against Contraception Essay

Scientific Arguments For and Against Contraception - Essay Example Despite so many methods being available, there are arguments for and against the use of the different methods of contraception. Abstinence is not engaging in the sexual act, which no doubt is the safest but the person does not get the pleasure of sexual intercourse. This is a biological need and helps release emotions and tensions. At the same time, abstinence is helpful for drug addicts and alcoholics when they are under the recovery program and are advised celibacy. It gives the person an opportunity to evaluate his/her sexual feelings. There are various barrier methods available, which block the flow of the sperm to the woman’s uterus and the fallopian tubes. Female condom, male condom, diaphragm, the cervical cap and the dam are the five barrier methods available. The female condom is not 100% leak proof. It can rupture and can lead to genital warts (Cat Bytes). The male condom is a thin cover usually of latex but can also be found of lambskin or polyurethane (Wills et al). Moisture, heat, and light make condoms susceptible to breakage (Sex-info). Animal skin condoms contain pores which allow HIV and other viruses to pass through but they are thinner and do not dull the sensitivity. Latex condoms remain the safest and only water based lubricants should be used before using the condom. Oil-based lubricants like Vaseline and baby oil damage the condom. Other barrier methods like the diaphragm, the cervical cap or the contraceptive sponge involve the use of spermicidal product, commonly containing nonoxynol-9 (N-9) (FHI 2005). Researches suggest that frequent use of N-9 increases the risk of HIV in women. using a male condom lubricated with N-9 is preferable. Diaphragm protects against the STD’s like gonorrhea and Chlamydia but not against all sexually transmitted diseases. It increases the risk of having a bladder infection and someone allergic to rubber cannot use this (Sex-info) A diaphragm should not be exposed to detergents and oil based

Product Life Cycle Essay Example for Free

Product Life Cycle Essay Definition: Products come and go. A company’s challenge is to hold on to its customers longer than it holds on to its products. It needs to watch the market life cycle and the customer life cycle more than the product life cycle. Someone at Ford realized this: â€Å"If we’re not customer driven, our cars won’t be either.† One selects marketing tools that are appropriate to the stage of the product’s life cycle. For example, advertising and publicity will produce the biggest payoff in the introduction stage of a product; their job is to build consumer awareness and interest. Sales promotions and personal selling grow more important during a product’s maturity stage. Personal selling can strengthen customers’ comprehension of your product’s advantages and their conviction that the offering is worthwhile. Product Development and Life-Cycle Strategies: In the face of changing customer needs, technologies and competition, product innovation or the development of new products has become vital to a companys survival. Introducing new products, however, is not sufficient. The firm must also know how to manage the new product as it goes through its life cycle: that is, from its birth, through growth and maturity, to eventual demise as newer products come along that better serve consumer needs. This product life cycle presents two principal challenges. First, because all products eventually decline, the firm must find new products to replace ageing ones (the problem of new-product development). Second, the firm must understand how its products age and adapt its marketing strategies as products pass through life-cycle stages (the problem of product life-cycle, strategies). We therefore look initially at the problem of finding and developing new products, and then at the challenge of managing them successfully over their life cycles. Innovation and New-Product Development: Given the rapid changes in taste, technology and competition, a company cannot rely solely on its existing products to sustain growth or to maintain  profitability. The firm can hope to maintain market and profit performance only by continuous product innovation. Product innovation encompasses a variety of product development activities product improvement, development of entirely new ones, and extensions that increase the range or number of lines of product the firm can offer. Product innovations are not to be confused with inventions. The latter are a new technology or product which may or may not deliver benefits to customers. An innovation is defined as an idea, product or piece of technology that has been developed and marketed to customers who perceive it as novel or new. We may call it a process of identifying, creating and delivering new-product values or benefits that were not offered before in the marketplace. In this chapter we look specifically at new products as opposed to value creation through marketing actions (such as product/brand repositioning, segmentation of current markets). We also need to distinguish between obtaining new products through acquisition by buying a whole company, a patent or a licence to produce someone elses product and through new-product development in the companys own research and development department. As the costs of developing and introducing major new products have climbed, many large companies have decided to acquire existing brands rather than to create new ones. Other firms have saved money by copying competitors brands or by reviving old brands. These routes can contribute to a firms growth and have both advantages and limitations. In this chapter, we are mainly concerned with how businesses create and market new products. By new products we mean original products, product improvements, pnxhict modifications and new brands that the firm develops through its own research and development efforts. Risks and Returns Jri Innovation Innovation can be very risky for a number of reasons: 1. New-product development is an expensive affair it cost Tate Lyle around  £150 million to develop a new sugar substitute; pharmaceutical firms spend an average of . £100-50 million to develop a new drug; while developing a super-jumbo project could cost billions. 2. New-product development takes time. Although companies can dramatically shorten their development time, in many industries, such as  Pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, aerospace and food, new-product development cycles can be as long as 10-15 years. The uncertainty and unpredictability of market environments further raise the risks of commercialization. Roots had to withdraw Manoplex, a heart drug, less than a year after its launch in the United Kingdom, after a trial on 3,000 patients in the United States and Scandinavia suggested an adverse effect on patient survival. The pharmaeeudeals division lost about  £200 million on the drug, which cost nearly  £100 million to develop over a period of 12 years, and about S20 million was spent on promoting and marketing it. 3. Unexpected delays in development are also a problem. History is littered with grand pioneering engineering projects which have failed to satisfy the original expectations of bankers, investors and politicians. The Seikan rail tunnel, connecting the island of Hokkaido to mainland Japan, was completed 14 years late and billions of pounds over budget; the S10 billion cost of the Channel tunnel, which opened on 6 May ] 994, a year later than originally planned, is more than double the  £4,8 billion forecast in 1987. 4. The new-product success record is not encouraging either. New products continue to fail at a disturbing rate. One recent study estimated that new consumer packaged goods (consisting mostly of line extensions) fail at a rate of 80 per cent. The same high failure rate appears to afflict new financial products and services, such as credit cards, insurance plans and brokerage services. Another study found that about 33 per cent of new industrial products fail at launch. Despite the risks, firms that learn to innovate well become less vulnerable to attacks by new entrants which discover new ways of delivering added values, benefits and solutions to customers problems.

Power and Money do not Substitute Love :: essays research papers

Money and power in the world today are two of the most envied things. Most people, well in fact all people live by the thesis that they must have as much power and money as possible. 'Money is not a substitute for tenderness, and power is not a substitute for tenderness.' This was the statement that Morrie used to bring his point across. I believe this statement is to show Mitch that by him working so hard for a new car, house etc. is not what life is about, also this was used to show others in the world that power and money are not substitutes for love, affection and compassion. Money is not just a possession as much as a way of life as it is the one thing that will keep us alive in the modern world. It seems ignorant to think that money is what drives us to what we are considering it is a mere possession, a fragment of our modern world. Without it we would be stranded, without shelter and without livelihood when we realize that it is what we live by and for. Every pert of our life revolves around money whether it be leisure or work. We work for money in order to have leisure time. This is a simple way to put it. What we should be living for is love, companionship, friendship and respect. To me these simple things seem worth more than what money can bring and therefore I do believe that the human race has become something out of a science-fiction movie or book. We seem not to care for the simple but most pleasurable things in life. Many people in today?s world seem to think that when they buy something new that they have thrived to own it will give them a ?hug? show compassion or love towards them, but the simple fact is that it won?t. Money cannot buy love, it can only be given and taken as a show of respect for others. Almost everyone in this world has fallen into the same trap, thinking that money will bring them happiness. We can all agree that having money is a nice experience and may make you happy for a short period of time but cannot stand in place of the affection (tenderness as Morrie puts it). I am sure that each one of us realizes Morrie?s statement to coincide with their own thoughts and beliefs but it seems to me that everyone is afraid of showing tenderness but even more afraid of loosing it so they venture into something such as money for a guaranteed ?

Oxidative Stress :: Health, Diseases

Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of various diseases including cancer, atherosclerosis, ischemic injury, inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. As oxidative stress might be an important part of many human diseases, the use of antioxidants in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals is intensively studied. Natural antioxidants have been the focus of considerable interest in recent times [22]. To date antioxidant activity of E. cava has been extensively studied and documented. E. cava extracts and the isolated compounds exhibited strong antioxidant activity and this proven antioxidant properties of the brown seaweed as a valuable natural antioxidant source have been utilized into several industrial applications [23]. One of the previous studies [10] has shown antioxidant activities of phlorotannins purified from E. cava on free radical scavenging using electron spin resonance (ESR). The potential antioxidant activities of three phlorotannins namely phloroglucinol, eckol and dieckol purified from E. cava were evaluated and all the compounds showed potential radical scavenging activities and potential inhibitory effects on H2O2-mediated DNA damage as well. In addition, promising antioxidant properties of E. cava were reported with novel phlorotannin derivatives [7]. They have isolated and characterized seven phlorotannins from E. cava and according to the results all the phlorotannins exhibited potent antioxidant properties. Kang et al. [24] have investigated the cytoprotective effect of eckol, which was isolated from E. cava, against oxidative stress induced cell damage in V79-4 cells. Further, they suggested that eckol protects V79-4 cells against oxidative damage by enhancing the cellular antio xidant activity and modulating cellular signal pathway. Antioxidative effect of E. cava dried by far infrared radiation drying was reported by Lee et al. [25]. Methanolic extract from E. cava dried by far infrared radiation drying enhanced cell viability and H2O2 scavenging activity in Vero cells. It was also found that dieckol; a phlorotannin was the major antioxidant compound in this work. Interestingly, a study in antioxidant activity of brown algal phlorotannins demonstrated that phlorotannins of E. cava had significant radical scavenging activities against the superoxide anion and DPPH, and were more effective compared to ascorbic acid and ÃŽ ±-tocopherol [26]. Triphlorethol-A phlorotannin found in E. cava, protects V79-4 cells against oxidative stress induced cell death through up regulation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) [27]. Further, they suggested triphlorethol-A augments cellular antioxidant defense capacity through induction of HO-1 via ERK-Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway, thereby protecting cells from oxidative stress. In another stud y cytoprotective effect of triphlorethol-A against ÃŽ ³-ray radiation-induced oxidative stress was reported [28].

Digital Supply Chain Managment

| CLICK AND MORTAR TO PURE PLAY| HOW APPLE AND DISNEY ARE MAKING THE MOST OF THEIR DIGITAL SUPPLY CHAINS A Management Information Systems Project Assignment: Select two organizations in the same industry and study their SCM. Prepare a report on how the companies are managing their customers and suppliers. Make some recommendations as to how they can improve their efficiency. Submitted to: Sir Waqas Saeed Submitted by: Muhammad Babar Suleman Hassan Irshad Atif Murtaza Arslan Sadiq Arslan Zafar Ran Amjid Mehmood Ehtisham-ur-Rasool 01. INTRODUCTION 1. 1 AMR SUPPLY CHAIN TOP 25: STRONG SHOWINGS BY APPLE AND WALT DISNEY Apple stays on top with an unbeatable combination of killer financials and stellar opinion scores. AMR Research The AMR Research institute recently published its list of the companies boasting the best Supply Chain Management procedures (see Appendix 01). Two of the top 25 players represented a radical departure from the traditional Supply Chains. Apple tops the list with a supply chain which is as much a revolution for traditional supply chains as it is a negation of almost everything the supply chains have previously been characterized by. For one, Apple’s supply chain for its online store iTunes is completely digital in nature. It is the apex and materialization of what Management Information Systems and Information Technology Disney combines demand-driven advancements had hinted at. Another company in the top 25, the entertainment giant Walt Disney combines a digital supply chain with a streamlined traditional one with spectacular results. replenishment with new collaborative models for pure content distribution. AMR Research As lines between companies’ offers of physical and digital products become blurred, Apple and Disney are the forerunners of what will be the future of supply chains: The Digital Supply Chain. Additionally, both the companies’ supply chain models are based on the â€Å"demand driven excellence† model which is the modern solution to meeting the needs of the global market. 1. 2 GROWING IMPORTANCE OF CONTENT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY The reason why the supply chains of Apple and Disney were able to rank so high is because both the companies were able to recognize the immense significance of digital content and Intellectual Property in the modern era. The music industry has by far experienced the most significant effects (positive AND negative) of digitization of music (in the form of mp3s and other digital formats). However where piracy quickly became the biggest challenge for the industry, sales of digital music have exploded over the past couple of years, thanks to Apple’s ubiquitous online store iTunes. iTunes started with 99 cents per song- now it’s a thriving market leader that encompasses music, movies, TV shows, apps, eBooks, podcasts and so much more. Disney benefits from â€Å"the best of both worlds† (as the title character of its popular Hannah Montana TV show would say) by combining a digital supply chain with its traditional practices such as that of supplying stores such as Blockbuster and Netflix with DVDs of its movies and TV shows. 2. THE DIGITAL SUPPLY CHAIN 2. 1 WHAT IS THE DIGITAL SUPPLY CHAIN? At the core of Apple and Disney’s fantastic success is the digital supply chain. The question arises as to what the digital supply chain is and how it differs from traditional supply chains. Before getting into the specifics, it is important to define the di gital supply chain. According to Wikipedia: â€Å"Digital supply chain is a new media term that encompasses the process of the delivery of digital media, be it music or video, by electronic means from the point of origin (content provider) to destination (consumer). Similar to how a physical medium must go through a supply chain process in order to mature into a consumable product, digital media must pass through various stages in processing to get to a point where the consumer can enjoy the music or video on a computer or television set. † All supply chains work within the same framework- the delivery of product from its origin to the hands of the end-user, while being worked on in every step on the way. Broadly, the digital supply chain involves the process of transferring digital content (music/video) from the content provider to the end consumer online and in a suitable format. The digital supply chain is different in four major ways: 1) 2) 3) 4) It exists solely online and for digital items. It is highly compressed and shorter. It has lower attached costs. It has an unbeatable inventory turnover rate. Recognizing the market forces and new technologies that are reshaping the industry, Capgemini has introduced its practice of digital supply chain, the content value chain: Capgemini is not the only company that has invested in digital supply chain solutions. HewlettPackard (HP) offers Digital Entertainment Services- solutions for digital supply chain needs of companies. The reason why the digital supply chain works is because of the immense increase that digital content has seen in its adoption. The results of a recent IBM digital consumer survey show a high trend towards digital content in every leading economy. Online access to digital content is most common in: Media and Entertainment (Music, Movies, Games, eBooks etc). E-learning Software Given the evolution in media, technology and the marketing scenario, the supply chain to manage this evolution requires a new set of complexities and metrics. Warehouses are being replaced with data centers, boxes replaced by bits, and trucks replaced by bandwidth. And it may very well be an easier supply chain to manage, with no inventory carrying costs, purchase orders, supplier scorecards, MRP, trucks, excess and obsolete, or quality issues, but it will take a new way of thinking. Long gone is the plan, buy, and make functions supply chains have been built on. Within the digital supply chain, you receive one item into inventory and sell it a million times over without restocking. Vendors can be paid for each digital asset sold, without having to stock inventory that may never move. Combine the enormous growth of the mobile market, a highly fragmented market expertise, and the asset costs to build and maintain a digital supply chain, and it’s clear the model is transforming traditional practices. So far, digital supply chains have been controlled by the innovators. But with the amount of digital content increasing dramatically and the Internet providing a point-to-point access for customers, the following will become increasingly important: Innovation—This goes for product and supply chain delivery methods. Time to market—Since digital products can be made once and sold many times, speed of collaboration between design and delivery will be a major measure of success Customer service—This includes quality of the transaction and product, speed of activations, and ease of refunds. 2. 2 THE DIGITAL SUPPLY CHAIN PROCESS The digital supply chain involves three players: Content Provider (Task: Encoding and Ingesting) Content Processor (Task: Vaulting and Processing and Transformation) Digital/Physical Retailer (Task: Packaging and Distribution) Intermediate components include processes like Quality Control, Digital Asset Management, Metadata entry, Digital Rights Management and the Content Delivery Network. †¢Media is converted from source to file. Vaulting †¢File based media mezzanines are stored and backed up. †¢Content is processed and transferred according to consumer needs. Packaging and Distribution †¢Media files are packaged and delivered to customers over the network. Encoding and Ingesting Processing and Transformation Apple and Disney both have a high degree of streamlining at every step of the process. The main functions of a digital supply chain are as follows: True on-demand product availability Ease of use and speed for content search and activation Pricing and subscriptions Quality management built on licensing and refunds One thing to remember is that there is no ONE digital supply chain. It’s as dynamic as it is flexible as you can see from the table below: Different media types Different business models Different technologies Different maturity of markets Different distribution models Audio / Video / Software / Games / Books Electronic sell through / subscriptions / free content Devices / offline vs. nline usage / formats / DRM Established structures vs. new models Direct-to-consumer / Aggregation 2. 3 COMPARISON WITH TRADITIONAL SUPPLY CHAINS The following table compares the digital supply chain with the traditional structure on the basis of some key processes associated with SCM. Value Addition Because of the inherent structure, each step of the digital supply chain has a higher percentage of contribution to the value delivered. As mentioned earlier, computer storages have taken the place of physical warehouses. The digital supply chain is at a high risk of security issues because of problems relating to piracy, hacking, viruses and data mishandling. Virtually, self-replenishing and never runs short! Because of superior communication, time costs are reduced. Disney is a good example of how on-demand product availability made possible by digital supply chains Increasing Download Speeds, Content Quality, Speed of Activation and Ease of Refunds are some of the benefits offered by the digital supply chain that give it an edge over the traditional supply chains when it comes to Customer Service. Physical Storage Security Stocking Time to Market On-demand product availability Customer Service 03. DEMAND DRIVEN EXCELLENCE The â€Å"Demand Driven Excellence† model has three overlapping areas of corporate responsibility: Supply Management (Manufacturing, logistics and sourcing) Demand Management (Marketing, sales and service) Product Management (R&D, engineering and product development) Basically, Apple and Disney’s strength is that they don’t treat their supply chain as an isolated business process. It is a crucial part of what makes the entire thing work and in order for its maximum efficiency, management of demand and products is essential simultaneously. Only thus, the supply chain is able to give such top-notch results. With visibility, communication and reliable processes all these three functional units can be made to work together for optimum performance. When these overlapping areas work together, thanks to compatible and efficient business processes, businesses are able to respond directly, quickly and efficiently to opportunities arising from demands from the market or the customers. Because all the three areas are able to rise up to any occasion of business opportunity and the tasks keep shifting back and forth among the units as required, in a hybrid, dynamic web of solution formation, Apple and Disney are Defining characteristics of supply chains built able to achieve superior results while each to this design [demand driven excellence] of their functional area benefits from include the ability to manage demand rather collaboration with the other two. AMR Research cites the demand driven exellence model as the reason why companies like Apple and Disney are able to perform so well. The new phrase that’s making the rounds in the corporate world is that â€Å"pull† is the new â€Å"push†. Creating solutions and coaxing customers to purchase them is fastly becoming a redundant technique. The modern business strategy is responding dynamically to consumer needs and making your solutions fit their demands than just respond to it, a networked rather than linear approach to global supply, and the ability to embed innovation in operations rather than keep it isolated in the laboratory. The demand-driven model is inherently circular and self-renewing, unlike the push supply chains of our factory-centric industrial past. AMR Research like a glove. The focus is to make them want what you are offering- and not wanting them to purchase what you’ve put out. Apple’s iTunes store is the perfect example. Previously, record labels put out albums out on the market and they were expected to sell based on the couple of singles released to the airwaves. The albums were â€Å"pushed† to the customers. These days, iTunes allows consumers to purchase individual tracks- and only the ones they want to- from any album. That way they are shifting control of the purchase entirely to the customer and it has only helped in mutual growth. The demand driven global supply chain is assessed by two key measures: Operational Excellence (Key Metrics: Perfect Order Rate, Total SCM costs) Innovation Excellence (Time to Value, Return on New Product Launch) The relationship of demand driven excellence and the key measures can be see in the following table which differentiates between market leaders and losers on the basis of their performance in the above mentioned areas. 4. APPLE AND DISNEY 4. 1. SPECIFICS Apple’s digital supply chain comprises procuring content from record labels and television networks (among others), processing the content to digital format and then making it available on its iTunes store. eBooks, Podcasts and Applications for its iPod and iPhone devices also form a big portion of the content that is distributed on its digital supply chain. The success of Apple’s digital supply chain is due to â€Å"an intoxicating mix of brilliant industrial design, transcendent software interfaces and consumable goods that are purely digital†, according to the authors of an AMR Research write-up. The authors also note that â€Å"the mechanical and financial benefits of this approach include extremely high inventory turns, minimal material or capacity limitations to growth, and excellent margins. † Following is an excellent article by a blogger on how iTunes manages suppliers and customers. ARTICLE 01: By Cara Smith As far as iTunes is concerned, both upstream and downstream supply chains apply. I feel iTunes use both strategies simply because in the case of upstream, iTunes acquire the vast majority of its digital content from well known music labels and film producers, who will trade with iTunes who will then use a downstream approach in order to sell their products and services onto their customers. Push vs pull supply models Nowadays with the digital music market at an all time high with sales hitting the roof, customers are experiencing a new way of purchasing. In terms of iTunes we can see that ‘pull’ is the new ‘push’ simply because customers are able to purchase individual tracks produced by an artist rather than having to purchase the entire album to only like one or two songs from the track listing. This then gives the customer the opportunity to customize their very own iTunes library or playlists with a range of songs made my various artists meaning that customers will want to hear what is in that playlist without having tracks or items pushed towards them. With the pull strategy concentrating solely on the customer the main importance of the company is to ensure they provide value and ensure the service will be one in order to ensure customer satisfaction as well as attracting new customer leading to a broadened customer base as well as increased sales rather than to deter customers from purchasing or visiting at all. Vertical integration vs disintegration vs virtual integration I would say that iTunes would most likely operate using ‘Virtual Integration’. I feel iTunes would operate using this strategy in its day to day running simply because they rely on management activities being undertaken and controlled by outside sources such as the record labels, film producers, application developers and many others, supplying them with all their up to date, high quality digital media and services of which their customers will purchase or subscribe to. Due to dealing with so many widely known record labels and film producers etc, iTunes always ensures to maintain a strong relationship in order to help secure any future deals these labels may offer as well as trying to broaden their supplier base at the same time. Evidence of value networks In terms of value networks I would say that by ensuring their customers are well looked after by providing them with everything they need and are satisfied with the products and services they are receiving, including the time in which it takes for a product to download or the quality of their purchase, iTunes will always maintain a good relationship with its customer and supplier base in terms of how they work in partnership with each other. By ensuring that their customers are always happy with what they are receiving it will be hard for iTunes to loose many of its customers at any one time unless some new top of the range platform was developed with extraordinary features of which iTunes has never thought of. Through continuously updating its platform and interface, whilst adding new and improved features and services iTunes always has something new for customers to explore giving them a sense of ease as they know customers will always be around to check out what new meaning that they are more likely to stay around and use its facilities. Evidence of efficiencies in supply chain As Apple iTunes continuously strive to provide the best quality service and produce top of the range goods they are always making changes to the way in which they deliver products and services to customers. With iTunes being considered the ‘Number 1’ music platform and online digital retail store, iTunes have proved they can be successful in every way possible by exceeding cashflow and turnaround targets through the huge demand for online digital content of which many of music record labels and film producers supply and give permission for iTunes to sell on to its customers at price. With this success iTunes will do anything and everything in order to keep its existing customer and attract new customers in, so with their ideas of continuous new and improved updates to the iTunes interface and by introducing better ways of syncing and managing your iPod or iPhone contents on the iTunes platform. In terms of ensuring customer have all the content they require iTunes it always up to date with the current charts and applications, however when a customer has made a purchase the item(s) will automatically start to download and will be accessible to listen to or view as soon as the download is complete. ttp://csmithcom425. wordpress. com/2009/10/30/week-6-supply-chain-management/ Apple’s revolutionary digital supply chain (nurtured by its demand driven excellence focus) is in addition to its distribution of its own physical products, the aforementioned iPod and iPhone as well as Macs and Macbooks. Whereas the line between the products that travel through Appleâ⠂¬â„¢s digital supply chain (music, movies, eBooks) and the ones that are distributed through its traditional supply chain (iPods, Macs) is quite distinct, Disney has a more blurred array of products offered on its digital and traditional supply chains. While it maintains its practice of maintaining top-notch physical distribution channels with its retailers (such as Blockbuster which carries Disney DVDs) the same content is also offered through its digital network (on-demand movies, online premieres, digital books), albeit not in the same format. The simultaneous existence of both the supply chains is necessary for Disney even though the content distributed differs only in format because the modern market demands ask for digital content whereas it has to fulfill the continued, if diminishing, demands of its physical etailers and varied businesses such as the supply chain needs of its theme parks. The Arvato Digital Services model can be used to understand how Disney manages the distribution of the same content across the two channels, digital and physical. Also, see the model on the next page for more detailed insight on how the Digital Supply Chain relates to Disney and other entertainment industry players. 4. RECOMMENDATIONS Our recommendation for both the companies would be to draft better licensing deals, capitalize on the immense potential of the digital supply chain, and use the internet to distribute digital content worldwide and not a select list of geographic locations. People in third world economies like Pakistan can make online purchases and download digital content as well. Without incurring significant additional costs, Apple and Disney can make their entire repository of digital content and access available without exceptions on the basis of location, and reap the financial benefits that will surely come. Apple has been doing a fantastic job of managing its supply chains but whereas its physical chain is finally sounder than it once was, the company needs to be careful not to underestimate the incredible popularity of its online content. Recently, during the rollout of a new iPhone, the physical supply chain was able to endure and accommodate the rush of early purchasers but the digital supply chain became overtaxed with demands of device activation and content synchronization which led to a slew of wait times, customer service issues and of course, unhappy customers. Disney should start preparing for a future where distribution of its content, that can be provided digitally, would be extinct. That would pose several new challenges for the company- Should it form lucrative liaisons with online retailers like Apple’s iTunes or sell its own content such as the TV Network NBC? An analysis of the pros and cons of both the alternatives could make better decisions possible in planning its supply chain strategies for the future. The biggest challenge we've been confronted with, preparing for, and have every expectation we'll be successful in is how technology will dramatically change the way consumers worldwide enjoy entertainment content,† DVD sales are already facing a slump (they slid by – Bill Patrizio, senior VP of 6. 9% last year). Studios are facing the dilemma of strategic sourcing and devising profitable solutions for the new age while procurement for Disney. trying to maintain profitability from the decreasing momentum of th e cash cow that was the DVD market. Our recommendation in this respect would be to brainstorm a fresh business model instead of trying to teach the old dog new tricks. A complete overhauling of the way the company thinks of content could be the solution for the problems that are sure to arise in the near future. The rumored â€Å"Keychest† could be a step in the right direction. Disney has always shown business savvy (as is obvious from the quote from 2005 display above) and we’re sure the company has some smart strategies thought out. REFERENCES Wikipedia Digital Supply Chain http://en. ikipedia. org/wiki/Digital_supply_chain AMR Research www. amrresearch. com PC World â€Å"How Apple’s Supply Chain fared during the 3G Rollout† http://www. pcworld. com/businesscenter/article/148429/how_apples_supply_chain_fared_during_t he_3g_rollout. html Cara’s Com425 Blog http://csmithcom425. wordpress. com/2009/10/30/week-6-supply-chain-management/ â€Å"Understanding the Digital Supply Chainâ⠂¬  Presented at Media-Tech Conference, 23rd April 2009 by Sven Deutschman, CEO, Arvato Digital Services EMEA http://www. media-tech. et/fileadmin/templates/europe09/pdf/presentations/MEDIATECH_2009_Sven_Deutschmann. pdf Business Week â€Å"Hollywood Is Worried as DVD Sales Slow† http://www. businessweek. com/magazine/content/09_09/b4121056770437. htm MESA Disney developing ‘Keychest’ for Digital Content Access http://mesalliance. org/blog/2009/10/21/disney-developing-‘keychest’-for-digital-content-access/ Information Week â€Å"Q&A with Disney's Patrizio: Digital Content Is the Future† http://www. informationweek. com/news/globalcio/interviews/showArticle. jhtml? articleID=160403913

Persuasive Speech Eating Healthy with a College Lifestyle Essay

Specific Purpose: To inform the audience how to make nutritious eating choices when you’re strapped for time and on the move. Central Idea: Packing a lunch, choosing a restaurant and meal wisely, and keeping nutritious snacks available can all provide for nutritious eating habits even with an on the-go college lifestyle. Introduction: I. The average college student is often pressed for time. A. As a student are you typically under a lot of stress? B. Do you often find yourself eating on the go? II. I myself am a college student and find it difficult to avoid bad habits like skipping meals or frequently visiting fast food restaurants. III. But eating a healthy diet can help you feel better, cope with stress, and perform better in the classroom and on the athletic field. It really isn’t that hard to get started. IV. Packing a lunch, choosing a restaurant and meal wisely, and keeping nutritious snacks available can all provide for nutritious eating habits even with an on-the-go college lifestyle. (Transition: Let’s start by looking at packing your own lunch.) Body: I. Packing or preparing a lunch can really be a great way to start eating healthier. A. You have healthier options to choose from than you would eating out. B. As explained in the article â€Å"Coffee, Lunch Spending Tops Tax Refunds† packing a lunch is usually less expensive than eating out. The average spent on lunch alone is $37 a week, or $2,000 a year. C. Many convenient options available so you don’t have to have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich everyday. 1. If you love sandwiches, use a variety of whole-grain breads, pitas, and wraps. 2. Extra food from dinner make great leftovers to bring for lunch, expert Connie Diekman, RD, president of the American Dietetic Association suggests â€Å"Leftovers are the perfect food to pack and take for lunch because you can control the portions and calories in the meal to ensure it will be nutritious, filling and delicious.† 3. Produce that can be cut, bagged and stored until lunch time: carrots, celery, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, sweet red pepper, sugar snap peas, apples, blueberries, grapes and melon. D. Bagged lunches can be  prepared the night before and can be made in a few minutes. for convenience so it is easy to eat healthy. (Transition: Going out for lunch is a common way to meet up with friends.) II. Making healthful and delicious choices in restaurants is also easier today. A. Restaurants are incorporating healthier choices into their menus with more options in portion sizes, preparation methods and menu items. 1. Choose a small or medium portion. This includes main dishes, side dishes, and beverages. 2. Order steamed, grilled, or broiled dishes instead of those that are fried or sautà ©ed. 3. Ask for whole-wheat bread for sandwiches. 4. As a beverage choice, ask for water instead of soda. One 20-ounce can of soda has approximately 22 packets of sugar. (â€Å"How Much Sugar Is In One Can Of Soda†) B. You can easily choose healthier items on the menu. 1. Ask them to hold the mayo and other fattening sauces. A tablespoon of regular mayonnaise has almost 100 calories! 2. Many fast-food chains now offer healthy sides in place of French fries. Take the healthy option. Even though they are made from potatoes, which are technically a vegetable, these are the biggest offenders. They are deep fried to the point of removing all nutritional value. In the opinion of physician Dr. Mercola French fries are one of the top 5 absolute worst foods you can’t eat. C. More and more restaurants are appealing to the demand for healthier menus. 1. Subway and other deli-style fast-food chains where you can order a sub or sandwich on whole wheat bread or a wrap, a lower-fat and lower-calorie option than fried food. 2. Between the breakfast and lunch menus, there’s only one entrà ©e at Chick-Fil-A that breaks 500 calories, and that’s the 530-calorie Sausage Biscuit. Chick-Fil-A received the highest rating fast-food restaurant in the â€Å"Eat This Not That! Restaurant Survival Guide,† by David Zinczenko. (Transition: Now that we have looked at bagged lunches and eating-out, let’s turn to snacking healthy.) III. Keeping healthy snacks easily accessible keeps hunger away. A. Make  it a habit to eat a piece of fruit, a bowl of cereal, or some low-fat yogurt before you set out to run errands. Regular eating can help you feel full and avoid temptation B. Blend a fruit smoothie or drink to take with you on your commute. C. Stock your car with bottled water and healthy snacks. Have a small snack before the cravings hit and you’re less likely to pull into that drive-through fast-food outlet. Conclusion: I. As we have seen, there are several options for eating healthy on the go. II. I have focused on packing a lunch, choosing a restaurant and meal wisely, and nutritious snacks. III. Healthy eating habits living a busy college lifestyle is possible with these points in mind. Bibliography: David, Zinczenko. Eat This Not That! Restaurant Survival Guide. Emmaus, PA: Rodale, 2010. Print. Kim, Susanna. â€Å"Coffee, Lunch Spending Tops Tax Refunds.† ABC News. ABC News Network, 23 Jan. 2012. Web. 07 Jan. 2013. â€Å"How Much Sugar Is in One Can of Soda?† How Much Sugar Is in One Can of Soda? N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2013. Mercola, Joseph. â€Å"The Five Absolute Worst Foods You Can Eat.† Mercola.com. N.p., 18 Oct. 2003. Web. 07 Jan. 2013 Adams, Mike. â€Å"Five Appetite Control Foods That Suppress Cravings without Adding Calories.† Five Appetite Control Foods That Suppress Cravings without Adding Calories. Natural News Network, 20 Jan. 2005. Web. 07 Jan. 2013.