10 Fascinating Facts About Fleas

10 Fascinating Facts About Fleas Fleas?! Theyve (literally) plagued humankind for centuries, but how much do you know about these common insects? Lets start with these 10 fascinating facts about fleas. Fleas Are Infamous for Their Role in Transmitting the Black Death During the Middle Ages, tens of millions of people died of the plague, or Black Death, as it spread across Asia and Europe. Cities were particularly hard hit. London lost 20% of its population to the plague in just two years during the mid-1600s. It wasnt until the dawn of the 20th century, however, that we identified the cause of the plague – a bacterium called Yersinia pestis. What does this have to do with fleas? Fleas carry the plague bacteria and transmit it to humans. An outbreak of the plague often kills a large number of rodents, particularly rats, and those bloodthirsty, plague-infected fleas are forced to find a new food source – humans. And the plague isnt a disease of the past, either. Were fortunate to live in an age when antibiotics and good sanitation practices keep plague deaths to a minimum. Fleas Lay Their Eggs on Other Animals, Not in Your Carpet A common misunderstanding about fleas is that they lay their eggs in your carpeting and furniture. Fleas actually lay their eggs on their animal host, meaning if your dog Fido has adult fleas living in his fur, those adult fleas are doing their best to keep him infested with their offspring. Flea eggs, however, arent particularly sticky or well suited for staying put, so they mostly roll off your pet and land in his dog bed or on the carpet. Fleas Lay a Lot of Eggs Without intervention, a few fleas on Fido can quickly become a maddening flea infestation that feels impossible to defeat. Thats because fleas, like bed bugs and other bloodsucking pests, will multiply quickly once theyve found a good host animal. A single adult flea can lay 50 eggs per day if its well fed on Fidos blood, and in its short lifespan can produce 2,000 eggs. Adult Fleas Poop Blood Fleas feed exclusively on blood, using their piercing, sucking mouthparts to siphon it from their hosts. An adult flea may take as many as 15 blood meals in a single day. And like any animal, a flea produces waste at the end of the digestion process. Flea feces are essentially dried blood residue. When they hatch, flea larvae feed on this dried blood waste, which is usually left in the host animals bedding. Fleas Are Skinny Fleas typically inhabit the fur or feathers of host animals. If they were built like most bugs, they would quickly become entangled. Flea bodies are quite thin and smooth, making it easy for a flea to move freely between pieces of fur or feathers on their hosts. A fleas proboscis, the straw-shaped beak that enables it to pierce skin and siphon blood from its host, remains tucked under its belly and between its legs when not in use. Most Flea Infestations in Homes Are Cat Fleas, Even in Homes Without Cats Remarkably, scientists estimate there are over 2,500 species of fleas on the planet. Within the lower 48 U.S. states, flea species number approximately 325. But when fleas infest a human habitation, theyre almost always cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis. Dont blame kitties for this annoyance, though, because despite their common name, cat fleas are just as likely to feed on dogs as they are on cats. Dog fleas (Ctenocephalides canis) can also be a pest problem but are mainly found on dogs that spend all or most of their time outdoors. Giant Fleas Plagued Dinosaurs as Early as 165 Million Years Ago Compression fossils from Inner Mongolia and China suggest that fleas pestered the dinosaurs, too. Two species, dubbed Pseudopulex jurassicus  and  Pseudopulex magnus, lived in the Mesozoic era.  The larger of the two dino flea species, Pseudopulex magnus, was an impressive 0.8 inches long, with equally impressive mouthparts capable of piercing dinosaur skin. These ancestors of todays fleas lacked the ability to jump, however. Fleas Prefer Humid Environments Fleas dont thrive in low humidity, which is why they arent as much of a pest problem in arid areas like the Southwest. Dry air prolongs the flea life cycle, and when the relative humidity falls below 60 or 70%, flea larvae may not survive. Conversely, the flea life cycle accelerates when the humidity is high, so keep that in mind when trying to control a flea infestation. Anything you can do to dry out the air in your home will help you win the battle against these bloodthirsty pests. Fleas Are Skilled Jumpers Fleas dont fly, and they would never be able to catch your dog in a foot race (despite having six legs to Fidos four). So how are these tiny insects able to get around? Fleas are amazingly adept at flinging themselves into the air. Cat fleas, our most common flea pest, can propel themselves a full 12 inches forward or upward. Thats a jumping distance equal to roughly 150 times its own height. Some sources compare this to a human landing a long jump of nearly 1,000 feet. Fleas Aren't Picky About Whose Blood They'll Drink In 1895, the Los Angeles Herald offered some facts about fleas to its readers. The flea, the Herald writer declared, shows a preference for women, children, and persons with thin skins. Thick-skinned men may have been offered a false sense of security by this column because fleas will gladly drink whatever blood is available to them. Fleas are sensitive to the vibrations that travel through the floor as people and pets walk through the house. They can also detect the presence of carbon dioxide we exhale. Should a sound or scent suggest a potential blood host is nearby, the hungry flea will jump in its direction, without considering first whether the host is a man, woman, or child. Sources: Plague: The Black Death, National Geographic website. Accessed online October 18, 2016.Plague: Ecology and Transmission, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Accessed online October 18, 2016.Ridding Your Home of Fleas, by Mike Potter, University of Kentucky Department of Entomology, fact sheet #602. Accessed online October 18, 2016.Some Facts About Fleas, Los Angeles Herald, Volume 44, Number 73, 23 June 1895, page 21.Physicians Guide to Arthropods of Medical Importance, 6th edition, by Jerome Goddard.Fleas, Purdue University Department of Entomology. Accessed online October 18, 2016.Giant Bloodsuckers! Oldest Fleas Discovered, by Stephanie Pappas, LiveScience website, February 29, 2012. Accessed online October 18, 2016.Monster Fleas Put the Bite on Dinosaurs, by Jeanna Bryner, LiveScience website, May 2, 2012. Accessed online October 18, 2016.

Take Care with Dysphemisms

Take Care with Dysphemisms Take Care with Dysphemisms Take Care with Dysphemisms By Mark Nichol You probably know what a euphemism is: putting lipstick on a pig, as in using the expression â€Å"pass away† in place of the word die, or â€Å"enhanced interrogation† instead of torture. Is dysphemism essentially, the opposite concept any more problematic? Just as a euphemism cloaks a disagreeable or offensive concept with an innocuous or vague label, dysphemism assigns a mildly or scathingly pejorative term to a concept or person that may be considered neutral or positive or may already have a negative connotation or reputation. For example, doctors are sometimes called quacks, and psychiatrists and psychologists are often referred to as shrinks. (Quack derives from quacksalver, from a Dutch word meaning â€Å"seller of salves,† or ointments; quack is equivalent to hawk, a verb meaning â€Å"to sell by calling out.† Shrink is a truncation of â€Å"head shrinker,† from the idea that mental health professionals are no more knowledgeable about the mind than witch doctors who shrink human heads for ritualistic purposes.) Shrink is often used inoffensively, even by psychiatric patients or by psychiatrists themselves. But quack denotes an unscrupulous doctor or someone posing as a doctor or otherwise fraudulently offering to heal others and is rarely used jocularly. Because of the variable connotations among dysphemisms, writers should take care when considering whether to use them. Such terms are unlikely to appear in formal writing, but they may show up in more casual prose, especially in opinionated comments. An accountant might, in jest, refer to himself as a bean counter, but the connotation is of an excessively meticulous person unable to focus on anything other than saving money, and the term is generally offensive. An attorney, on the other hand, would never call herself a shyster, even in a moment of levity, and the word is provocative. â€Å"City slicker†? I’m a relative newcomer to a rural area from a metropolitan one, and I might jokingly self-identify as such, but for anyone else who might think of calling me that, as the (mis)quote from a Gary Cooper movie goes, â€Å"Mister, smile when you call me that.† The same policy applies to tree-hugger or redneck, bookworm or â€Å"frat boy,† â€Å"pencil pusher† or â€Å"talking head†: Use with caution. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Business Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Comparative Forms of AdjectivesTop 11 Writing Apps for iOS (iPhone and iPad)Ebook, eBook, ebook or e-book?

Government and business Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Government and business - Assignment Example come the first American state to enact a blanket EPR law, which covers all products, going a step ahead of other states which have product-specific laws. A section of manufacturing businesses are obviously opposed to the expanding ambit of the EPR laws, citing the resulting increase in the price of goods, which will ultimately be borne by the customer. However, proponents of the EPR laws argue that manufacturers will be encouraged to adopt new product design, incorporating greater longevity and recyclability. The laws also reduce the burden on the tax payer. Some companies have used compliance to EPR laws as an opportunity to establish their green credentials in a bid for consumer loyalty. A call from manufacturers for a uniform national policy on EPR is fully justified. Unbridled consumerism is undoubtedly a major factor in environmental degradation. The EPR laws will go a long way in goading manufacturers into incorporating easy, eco-friendly means of disposal into their product designs. The burden on landfills will be considerably reduced. The predicted higher costs of goods may be an asset in the long run, by forcing consumers to consider repairing goods for longer life instead of approaching any product as ‘disposable’ – at the tax payers’ expense! The EPR laws will be a definite asset in the battle against global warming. FOR seasoned shoppers, â€Å"buyer’s remorse† is a familiar feeling. â€Å"Seller’s remorse† may also become common soon, as ever more governments order manufacturers to assume the cost of disposing of their products after consumers are done with them. Until recently, most laws on â€Å"extended producer responsibility† (EPR) or â€Å"product stewardship† applied only to specific types of goods, such as car tyres or electronics. But in late March Maine, following the lead of several Canadian provinces, became the first American state to enact a blanket EPR law, which could in principle cover any product. Governments are eager to

Mammal research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Mammal - Research Paper Example Different mammals live in different habitats, depending on the kind of food they consume. Therefore, mammals can be found in deserts, near wetlands, forests, and near water bodies. This paper presents a study research that focuses on specific mammals referred to as â€Å"Otters,† and the research is about how otters socialize. There is presentation of data, and conclusions are made from the data. Otters are mammals that live or found in water, hence referred to as marine or aquatic mammals. These are considered to be the smallest kind of mammals that live in water. In order to keep warm, otters have thick fur on their body. There are different types of otters, including sea otters, giant otters, and river otters. One of the differentiating factors of these otters is their area of habitation. Nonetheless, otters can be found in Europe, Asia, North America, parts of North Africa, and South America. A common characteristic of all otters is that they exhibit a high level of social behaviour. These marine mammals for instance hang out in groups, based on their sexes. While female otters spend time together, their male counterparts also do spend their time together in groups. The otters that are mothers to young ones spend a great deal of their time nursing the young ones, as well as grooming them. These also carry their young ones on their chests (Dickerson 2-3). For this research on otters, it was important to locate a safe, convenient and accessible place, where otters could be found easily. This is mainly because, this is a primary research study, and hence first-hand experience was essential. It was deemed appropriate to conduct the research study in the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. This aquarium is located in Chicago, and is an indoor aquarium. In the aquarium, there are more than 30,000 marine animals, together with those that inhabit aerial and terrestrial environments (Shedd Aquarium Web). After scheduling and buying tickets, the study

Counselor Essay Essay Example for Free

Counselor Essay Essay Michael is a Case Manager within Spectrum Health hospitals and has been for four years. Michael is twenty-eight years old and enjoys doing his job although he has stated that it can be difficult at times. Michael stated that sometimes there is over time when other employees call in and case load can be heavy at times. Michael stated that every so often he has to wear a pager so employees within the hospital can get ahold of them when emergent issues arise. On call is every third weekend and four days out of each month where Michael is on call 24/7. As Michael punches in for the day, he meets with patients that are either just admitted or ready for discharge. Michael will help patients gain what they expect within the hospital so they will be pleased with the kind of care they received while in the hospital. Michael will also help patients that are ready to be discharged gain everything needed for their home after they are discharged. Things such as canes, walkers, commodes, home care, Dr. Visit’s, etc. As I asked if Michael has every experience burnout he stated that he has felt burned out before and even a little overwhelmed when he is placed on call for a few days. Michael has never thought about quitting his job but he has felt the need to take a few days off before just to gain a clear mind and get back to work. One stage of burn out Michael has experienced would be stage three in which that is frustration. Frustration comes within Michael when he is unable to complete every task that is expected of him. Michael has felt frustrated before when he is given too much and not enough time to complete every task. Michael strives to do his best within his position and sometimes that is not enough because as he gains too much work, he cannot spend the time needed with the patients to ensure proper  care is being achieved while the patient is in the hospital. Michael often sets up agendas for his work and how to get the work done in a timely manner so he does not get frustrated when things don’t get done or issues arise. Michael relieves frustration this way because he is able to visualize what he needs to do and what things to do first. Michael often takes times off from work in order to not get frustrated within his position. Michael will spend time with his family and while at home he will not speak of work so that he can enjoy family time and not think of work while relaxing. Burnout is defined as an internal psychological experience that involves feelings, attitudes, motives and expectations. Burnout means the energy of an individual has been consumed by helping others. Energy crisis occurs when the psychic demand exceeds the supply. Burnout is often experienced with a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion caused by a long-term involvement within an emotionally demanding situation. Burnout is often accompanied by physical depletion, feelings of helplessness, disillusionment, negative self-concept and negative attitudes toward employment, people and life in itself. Burnout represents a breaking point where it’s hard for an individual to cope with the environment surrounding them. Compassion fatigue is often caused by a work related stress and it is also an increase of loss in compassion over a period of time. Compassion fatigue can share similar symptoms of burnout but just not in an as severe way. There are many ways burnout can occur; Burnout often comes in blocks that include Role ambiguity or the lack of clarity concerning rights, responsibilities, methods, goals, status and accountability toward themselves. Role conflict is the significance of a  demand placed on the individual that are incompatible, inappropriate and inconsistent within the values or ethics. Role overload is the quantity and quality of demands placed on the individual that are too great. Inconsequentiality is the feeling of helplessness, the individual may feel that no matter what they do they are not good enough they gain little  recognition, accomplishment, appreciation or success. Isolation means that individual may lacking in support or has minimal support and the last one is Autonomy, where the ability to make decision on what they will do and how they will deal with their patients may be affected by their place of employment. Signs of burnout may include tardiness, dreading work, turning to drug s or alcohol, withdrawing from friends or family, clockwatching, depression, sudden change in weight, suicide or homicide thoughts or attempts just to name a few. Burnout also comes in stages, there are four main stages of burnout that can occur as an employee tries there absolute best within the position they have accepted within any organization. Stage one is enthusiasm, where the employee enters the job with high hopes and unrealistic expectations. If the employee is not tempered by orientations, training and realistic expectations the Human Service work may lead to the second stage which is stagnation. Stage two is stagnation, where the employee starts to feel that personal, financial, and career needs are not met. This may happen as the employee visualizes other employees moving on faster than themselves, an increase in pressure at home, financial obligations increasing and lack of employee reinforcement from doing the job well. As these are not met or taken care of, burnout can lead to the next stage of frustration. Stage three is frustration, where the employee may doubt their Caretaker Interview 5 effectiveness, values or impact of their efforts within the organization. One employee’s frustration may hold a domino effect toward others because the effect of burnout are contagious within an environment. Frustration can be dealt with by arranging workshops and support groups to increase awareness and generate problem solving as a group effort. If frustration is not taken care of within a positive manner, frustration can turn into Apathy. Stage four is Apathy, where the employee meets the feeling of actually being burned out. The employee may become immobile, in denial and may be in stage of crisis. As an employee meets this stage of burnout, psychotherapy may be needed to reverse the actions of burnout and to get the employee at a positive state of mind.

Natural Resources And Management Essay -- essays research papers

Natural Resources and Management   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cultural resources are the traces of all past activities and accomplishments of people that includes designated historic districts, archeological sites, buildings, structures, and objects. These also include less tangible forms like aspects of folklife, traditional or religious practices, and landscapes. These nonrenewable resources often yield unique information about past societies and environments, and can provide answers for modern day social and conservation problems.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  a ship wreck   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  an arrowhead a canon   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  an Indian campsite   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Indian rock art   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  a tin can   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  a Victorian house   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  an historic mining town   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  an irrigation canal   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  a dam   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  All of these can be cultural resources. Cultural resources are the physical remains of a people's way of life that archaeologists and historians study to try to interpret how people lived. Cultural resources are important because they help us to learn about our past. These tangible remains help us understand other cultures, appreciate architecture and engineering, and learn about past accomplishments. Furthermore, they offer educational and recreational opportunities and provide links to our past. &nb...

Corporate Wars Essay

Corporate war is the war between opponent firms who compete with each other for greater market share. There are always 2 groups involved in a corporate war and they are: The target company and the competitors. Whenever there is competition the first thing the target company does is to develop its marketing plans based on what they think their opponent will do. The companies formulate two strategies: * The first being their opening move * The subsequent moves are based on the competitor’s strategy But in any case the company’s success depends upon how well they prepare their marketing strategies. To do this effectively a company must carefully study its competitors as well as its potential and actual customers. Besides this the company must also identify its weaknesses. The company should also decide as to which competitor should be attacked and which one to be avoided. According to Philip Kotler: * Poor firms ignore their competitors * Average firms copy their competitors * Winning firms lead their competitors Marketing warfare strategies are a type of strategies, used in business and marketing, that try to draw parallels between business and warfare, and then apply the principles of military strategy to business situations. In business we do not have enemies, but we do have competitors; and we do not fight for land, but we do compete for market share. Types of marketing warfare strategies:- Offensive marketing warfare strategies – They are strategies designed to obtain some objective, usually market share, from a target competitor. In addition to market share, an offensive strategy could be designed to obtain key customers, high margin market segments, or high loyalty market segments.  Fundamental principles:- 1. Assess the strength of the target competitor 2. Find a weakness in the targets position. Attack at this point. 3. Launch the attack on as narrow a front as possible. Whereas a defender must defend all their borders, an attacker has the advantage of being able to concentrate their forces at one place. 4. Launch the attack quickly. Types of offensive marketing warfare strategies:- * Frontal Attack – This is a direct head-on assault. It usually involves marshaling all your resources including a substantial financial commitment. All parts of your company must be geared up for the assault from marketing to production. It usually involves intensive advertising assaults and often entails developing a new product that is able to attack the target competitors’ line where it is strong. It often involves an attempt to â€Å"liberate† a sizable portion of the target’s customer base. * Envelopment Strategy (also called encirclement strategy) – This is a much broader but subtle offensive strategy. It involves encircling the target competitor. This can be done in two ways. You could introduce a range of products that are similar to the target product. Each product will liberate some market share from the target competitor’s product, leaving it weakened, demoralized, and in a state of siege. If it is done stealthily, a full scale confrontation can be avoided. Alternatively, the encirclement can be based on market niches rather than products. * Leapfrog strategy -This strategy involves bypassing the enemy’s forces altogether. In the business arena, this involves either developing new technologies, or creating new business models. This is a revolutionary strategy that re-writes the rules of the game. The introduction of compact disc technology bypassed the established magnetic tape based defenders. The attackers won the war without a single costly battle. This strategy is very effective when it can be realized. Defensive marketing warfare strategies – They are a type of marketing warfare strategy designed to protect a company’s market share, profitability, product positioning, or mind share. Fundamental principles:- 1. Always counter an attack with equal or greater force. 2. Defend every important market.   3. Be forever vigilant in scanning for potential attackers. Assess the strength of the competitor. 4. The best defense is to attack yourself. Attack your weak spots and rebuild yourself anew. 5. Defensive strategies should be the exclusive domain of the market leader The main types of defensive marketing warfare strategies are:- * Position defense – This involves the defense of a fortified position. This tends to be a weak defense because you become a â€Å"sitting duck†. It can lead to a siege situation in which time is on the side of the attacker, that is, as time goes by the defender gets weaker, while the attacker gets stronger. In a business context, this involves setting up fortifications such as barriers to market entry around a product, brand, product line, market, or market segment. This could include increasing brand equity, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, or repeat purchase rate. It could also include exclusive distribution contracts, patent protection, market monopoly, or government protected monopoly status. * Mobile defense – This involves constantly shifting resources and developing new strategies and tactics. A mobile defense is intended to create a moving target that is hard to successfully attack, while simultaneously, equipping the defender with a flexible response mechanism should an attack occur. In business this would entail introducing new products, introducing replacement products, modifying existing products, changing market segments, changing target markets, repositioning products, or changing promotional focus. This defense requires a very flexible organization with strong marketing, entrepreneurial, product development, and marketing research skills. * Counter offensive – This involves countering an attack with an offense of your own. If you are attacked, retaliate with an attack on the aggressor’s weakest point. Flanking marketing warfare strategies – They are a type of marketing warfare strategy designed to minimize confrontational losses. Fundamental principles:- 1. Avoid areas of likely confrontation. A flanking move always occurs in an uncontested area. 2. Make your move quickly and stealth fully. The element of surprise is worth more than a thousand tanks. 3. Make moves  that the target will not find threatening enough to respond decisively to. The main types of flanking marketing warfare strategies are:- * Flanking Attack – This is designed to pressure the flank of the enemy line so the flank turns inward. You make gains while the enemy line is in chaos. In doing so, you avoid a head-on confrontation with the main force. The disadvantage with a flanking attack is that It can draw resources away from your center defense, making you vulnerable to a head-on attack. In business terms, a flanking attack involves competing in a market segment that the target does not consider mission critical. The target competitor will not be as concerned about your activities if they occur in market niches that it considers peripheral. * Flanking Position – This involves the re-deployment of your resources to deter a flanking attack. You strengthen your flank if you think it is vulnerable. The disadvantage of this defense is that it can distract you from your primary objective and siphon resources away from where they are needed most. In business terms, this involves the introduction of new products, product lines, or brands, the defensive re-positioning of existing products, or additional promotional activity in a market niche. It requires market segmentation and/or product differentiation. You protect against potential loss of market share in a segment by strengthening your competitive position there. * Guerrilla marketing warfare strategies – They are a type of marketing warfare strategy designed to wear-down the enemy by a long series of minor attacks. Rather than engage in major battles, a guerrilla force is divided into small groups that selectively attacks the target at its weak points. To be effective, guerrilla teams must be able to hide between strikes. They can disappear into the remote countryside, or blend into the general population. The general form of the strategy is a sequence of attacking, retreating, and hiding, repeated multiple times in series. It has been said that â€Å"Guerrilla forces never win wars, but their adversaries often lose them. Strengths:- 1. Because you never attack the enemy’s main force, you preserve your resources. 2. It is very flexible and can be adapted to any situation, offensive or defensive. 3. It is very difficult to counter with conventional methods. Baskin-Robbins is an American global ice cream parlor based in Canton, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1945 by Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins in Glendale, California. The company is known for its â€Å"31 flavors† slogan, more than the 28 flavors then famously offered at Howard Johnson’s restaurants, with the idea that a customer could have a different flavor every day of any month. The slogan came from the Carson-Roberts advertising agency in 1953. Baskin and Robbins believed that people should be able to sample flavors until they found one they wanted to buy, hence the iconic small pink spoon. The Baskin-Robbins ice cream parlors started as separate ventures from Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins, owning Burt’s Ice Cream Shop and Snowbird Ice Cream respectively. Snowbird Ice Cream featured 21 flavors, a novel concept for the time. When the separate companies merged in 1953, this concept grew to 31 flavors. By 1948, Burt and Irv opened six stores, the first franchise covering the sale of ice cream was executed May 20, 1948, for the store at 1130 South Adams in Glendale (Store #1). Burt and Irv were brothers-in-law. In 1949, the company’s production facility opened in Burbank. They made the decision to sell the stores to the managers, thus becoming one of the first franchised food service businesses. In 1953, Baskin-Robbins hired Carson-Roberts Advertising who recommended adoption of the 31 as well as the pink (cherry) and brown (chocolate) polka dots and typeface that were reminiscent of the circus. The first store that adopted the new 31 look was 804 North Glendale Ave. in Glendale, California in March 1953. Between 1949 and 1962, the corporate firm was Huntington Ice Cream Company. The name succeeded The Baskin-Robbins Partnership and was eventually changed back to Baskin-Robbins, Inc. on November 26, 1962. Baskin-Robbins also was the first to introduce ice cream cakes to the public. 31 Flavors# * Banana Nut Fudge * Black Walnut * Burgundy Cherry * Butterscotch Ribbon * Cherry Macaroon * Chocolate * Chocolate Almond * Chocolate Chip * Chocolate Fudge * Chocolate Mint * Chocolate Ribbon| * Coffee * Coffee Candy * Date Nut * Egg Nog * French Vanilla * Green Mint Stick * Lemon Crisp * Lemon Custard * Lemon Sherbet * Maple Nut| * Orange Sherbet * Peach * Peppermint Stick * Pineapple Sherbet * Pistachio Nut * Raspberry Sherbet * Rocky Road *  Strawberry * Vanilla * Vanilla Burnt Almond| * Orange Sherbet * Peach * Peppermint Stick * Pineapple Sherbet * Pistachio Nut * Raspberry Sherbet * Rocky Road * Strawberry * Vanilla * Vanilla Burnt Almond Reuben Mattus, a young entrepreneur with a passion for quality and a vision for creating the finest ice cream, worked in his mother’s ice cream business selling fruit ice and ice cream pops from a horse-drawn wagon in the bustling streets of the Bronx, New York. To produce the finest ice cream available, he insisted on using only the finest, purest ingredients. The family business prospered throughout the 1930s, 40s and 50s. By 1960, Mr. Mattus, supported by his wife Rose, decided to form a new company dedicated to his ice cream vision. He called his new brand Haagen-Dazs, to convey an aura of the old-world traditions and craftsmanship to which he remained dedicated. Haagen-Dazs ice cream started out with only three flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and coffee. But Mr. Mattus’ passion for quality soon took him to the four corners of the globe. His unique ice cream recipes included dark chocolate from Belgium and hand-picked vanilla beans from Madagascar, creating distinctive and indulgent taste experiences. The Haagen-Dazs brand quickly developed a loyal following. Its early success was created by word of mouth and praise. Without the benefit of advertising, the story of an incredibly rich and creamy confection spread rapidly. At first, it was only available at gourmet shops in New York City, but soon distribution expanded throughout the east coast of the U.S., and by 1973 Haagen-Dazs products were enjoyed by discerning customers throughout the United States. In 1976, Mr. Mattus’ daughter Doris opened the first Haagen-Dazs ® Shop. It was an immediate success, and its popularity led to a rapid expansion of Haagen-Dazs ® Shops across the country. In 1983 Mr. Mattus  agreed to sell the Haagen-Dazs brand to The Pillsbury Company, which remained committed to the tradition of superior quality and innovation on which Haagen-Dazs ice cream was founded. Since then, it has become a global phenomenon, available in 50 countries. The same careful attention to quality that Reuben Mattus built into every Haagen-Dazs product remains today. Ice cream lovers the world over now recognize the unique Haagen-Dazs logo as synonymous with the ultimate super-premium ice cream. From the beginning, Haagen-Dazs ice cream has sought to innovate and bring new frozen dessert experiences to its customers, including distinctive flavors such as vanilla swiss almond, butter pecan, and dulce de leche, to name just a few. Haagen-Dazs was also the first to introduce the world to ice cream bars for a grown-up palate, with the introduction of the Haagen-Dazs brand ice cream bar line in 1986. Other super-premium innovations followed, with frozen yogurt in 1991 and sorbet in 1993.To this day, the Haagen-Dazs brand remains committed to developing exceptional new super-premium frozen dessert experiences, releasing new flavors every year. Mattus invented the Danish sounding ‘Haagen-Dazs’ as a tribute to Denmark’s exemplary treatment of its Jews during the Second World War and included an outline map of Denmark on early labels. The name is not Danish, which has neither an umlaut nor a digraph zs, and it has no meaning. Mattus thought that Denmark was known for its dairy products and had a positive image in the U.S. His daughter Doris Hurley reported in the PBS documentary An Ice Cream Show (1999) that her father sat at the kitchen table for hours saying nonsensical words until he came up with a combination he liked. The reason he chose this method was so that the name would be unique and original The ice cream comes in many different flavors and is a â€Å"super-premium† brand, meaning it is quite dense (very little air is mixed in during manufacture), uses no emulsifiers or stabilizers other than egg yolks, and has high butterfat content. Haagen-Dazs is also meant to be kept at a temperature that is substantially lower than most ice creams in order to keep its intended firmness. It is sold both in grocery stores and in dedicated retail outlets serving ice cream cones, sundaes, and so on. In 1980, Haagen-Dazs unsuccessfully sued Frusen Glà ¤djà ©, an American ice cream maker, whose name without the acute accent is Swedish for â€Å"frozen delight†, for using similar foreign branding strategies. Haagen-Dazs was bought by Pillsbury in 1983. General Mills  bought Pillsbury in 2001. However, in the United States and Canada, Haagen-Dazs products are produced by Nestlà © subsidiary Dreyer’s, which acquired the rights as part of the General Mills-Pillsbury deal. The brand name is still owned by General Mills but is licensed to Nestlà © in the US and Canada. To offset increasing costs of their ingredients and the delivery of the product, Haagen-Dazs announced that in January 2009 it would be reducing the size of their ice cream cartons in the US from 16 US fl oz (470 ml) to 14 US fl oz (410 ml).Additionally they announced that in March 2009 they would be shrinking the 32 US fl oz (950 ml) container to 28 US fl oz (830 ml). In response, Ben & Jerry’s said that they would not be changing the sizes of their cartons. Common Rivals of Baskin Robbins and Haagen Dazs London Diary is the established market leader in the premium ice cream segment. With its rich unique taste and smooth creamy texture. London Diary offers a truly delicious and unforgettable ice cream experience-which you can lose yourself in! With a $5 correspondence course from Penn State in making ice cream, two regular guys named Ben and Jerry open their first ice cream scoop shop in Burlington, Vermont. Heroes for Ice Cream Hungry for Justice SWOT analysis (alternatively SWOT Matrix) is a structured planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture. A SWOT analysis can be carried out for a product, place or person. It involves specifying the objective of the business venture or project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieving that objective. The technique is credited to Albert Humphrey, who led a convention at the Stanford Research Institute in the 1960s and 1970s using data from Fortune 500 companies * Strengths: Characteristics of the business or project that give it an advantage over others * Weaknesses: Are characteristics that place the team at a disadvantage relative to others * Opportunities: External elements that the project could exploit to its  advantage * Threats: External elements in the environment that could cause trouble for the business or project Identification of SWOTs is important because they can inform later steps in planning to achieve the objective. First, the decision makers should consider whether the objective is attainable, given the SWOTs. If the objective is not attainable a different objective must be selected and the process repeated. Users of SWOT analysis need to ask and answer questions that generate meaningful information for each category (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) to make the analysis useful and find their competitive advantage. The aim of any SWOT analysis is to identify the key internal and external factors that are important to achieving the objective. These come from within the company’s unique value chain. SWOT analysis groups key pieces of information into two main categories: Internal factors – The strengths and weaknesses internal to the organization. External factors – The opportunities and threats presented by the external environment to the organization. The internal factors may be viewed as strengths or weaknesses depending upon their effect on the organization’s objectives. What may represent strengths with respect to one objective may be weaknesses for another objective. The factors may include all of the 4Ps; as well as personnel, finance, manufacturing capabilities, and so on. The external factors may include macroeconomic matters, technological change, legislation, and socio-cultural changes, as well as changes in the marketplace or competitive position. The results are often presented in the form of a matrix. SWOT analysis is just one method of categorization and has its own weaknesses. For example, it may tend to persuade its users to compile lists rather than to think about what is actually important in achieving objectives. It also presents the resulting lists uncritically and without clear prioritization so that, for example, weak opportunities may appear to balance strong threats. It is prudent not to eliminate too quickly any candidate SWOT entry. The importance of individual SWOTs will be revealed by the value of the strategies it generates. A SWOT item that produces valuable strategies is important. A SWOT item that generates no  strategies is not important. The usefulness of SWOT analysis is not limited to profit-seeking organizations. SWOT analysis may be used in any decision-making situation when a desired end-state (objective) has been defined. Examples include: non-profit organizations, governmental units, and individuals. SWOT analysis may also be used in pre-crisis planning and preventive crisis management. SWOT analysis may also be used in creating a recommendation during a viability study/survey. Some findings from Menon et al. (1999) and Hill and Westbrook (1997) have shown that SWOT may harm performance. Other complementary analyses have been proposed, such as the Growth-share matrix.

Ethics and the Oil Industry

As the US Economy continues to dive, unemployment persists at a level not seen since the Great Depression, and the US Federal Government sees fit to continually bailout big business, it escapes logic why the cost of oil once again, is on the rise. The US oil companies would have us believe it has to do with the Middle East oil producing nations cutting back on production, therefore raising the price. The energy traders at the New York Stock Exchange shrug it off to supply and demand. Many theorize that America has billions of surplus barrels of oil. I believe it is pure greed from these entities.With so many Americans struggling to survive and just keep food on the table, would it not be ethical to enact a type of moratorium on fuel prices? With the Freedom of Information Act working in full force, it is simple to find information on the World Wide Web that most industries would rather not have located. Take for example, the oil industry. As the price of gas at the pump changes daily , US oil companies continue to rake in huge profits. Even in the wake of the recent oil spill which has had a global affect, BP Oil, â€Å"the London-based company earned $1. 9 billion from July through September, compared with $5. 3 billion a year earlier. But the fact that BP returned to profits at all, coming after a loss of $17. 2 billion in the second quarter, indicated the company's operations remain solid despite the spill† (Wardell, 2010). This company set aside $40 Billion for the pending lawsuits and cleanup and helping to restore the affected economies. I do not know, how about dropping the price at the pump if the company really wants to effectively help out?It is speculated this spill will be felt for years to come. I wonder how many remember the Exxon Valdez spill caused by a drunken ship captain†¦ As congressional leaders begun having many meetings to discuss this issue, the oil company CEOs continue to lay claim a huge percentage of the profits (of course no dollar figure was given), is for creating new energy sources, really? Where are the charts and PowerPoint diagrams that consumers can review to ease our minds while we are again, paying between $3. 00 and $4. 00 for a gallon of gas?I find it interesting that when asked, not one executive was forthcoming with information related to the quarterly dividend payments to the stockholders. I am always flabbergasted by the laundry list of excuses these executives dribble out of their mouths. Two of my personal favorites are, 1: Twice a year, each oil company shuts off part of their refinery distribution for routine maintenance. Sure enough, for two to four weeks the price of a gallon of gas will jump 10 to 20 cents. What I find interesting is when the price starts to drop again; why does the price not drop the entire amount of the increase?I have personally watched several of these inquisitions on the C-Span channel. I wonder why during the Senate/oil company meetings, this question is never asked. 2: The oil producing countries are cutting production to inflate prices. I think the United States Government believes the American public is clueless as to what is really going on. The congressional leaders raise their voice and appear to grill the oil execs with questions and when the meeting is over, it is a slap-on-the-wrist and â€Å"stop doing that! †, and life continues as it does.The Senate meeting appears to have been nothing more than a â€Å"dog and pony† show for the American public. Society needs to remember that congressional leaders do not have to pay for their own fuel. It continues to beg the question, who is watching out for the rest of us that do have to pay at the pump? It certainly will not be the futures traders at the New York Stock Exchange. For those who do not understand futures, this is when traders speculate on the price of specific commodities such as Gold, Orange Juice and oil.Traders buy or sell based on what they believe wil l be the price by a certain date. Based on this type of fabricated speculation, the value of the dollar and supposed turmoil around the world, this can have a serious effect on the price of oil, or so we are lead to believe. â€Å"In California, over a 21 month period, October 2006 to June 2008, a gallon of gas rose from $2. 29 to $4. 59 a gallon† (Herszenhorn, 2008). On a network-news website in Tallahassee, Florida, the lead article said, â€Å"Congress is poised to investigate what role speculators are playing in rising gas prices. It went on to say, â€Å"The prices keep climbing. The price at this Tallahassee station was 10 cents cheaper just six days ago. Panama City stations are even worse where the price of gas Monday jumped 10 cents a gallon just Monday afternoon. † (Ray, May 2008). In April of 2008, Governors from several states called on the White House, the Energy and Justice Departments to begin an investigation into insider trading, illegal price fixing and speculator manipulation. This included collusion within the oil companies.Amazingly, by November 24, 2008, a gallon of gas was $1. 71 a gallon. Everyone was so relieved of the incredible price drop, no one bothered to ask the oil companies how it was possible that gas could drop $2. 87 a gallon in five months when it took 21 months to increase $2. 30. I suppose we will never know. I suppose I would not fret if I was one who had a lot of stock in any oil company. For all the posturing the US Congress seems to have perfected to an art form, there are still many unanswered questions when the discussion surrounding energy and oil surface.In a New York Times article, the overall point was once again, no concise ideas of how to deal with the price of oil situation. Of course, the article talked about a lot of finger pointing towards OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries). The article stated, â€Å"High on the list of Congressional Democrats own proposals is an eight -year old bill first introduced by Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin in 2000, that would classify the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries as an illegal monopoly in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act† (Herszenhorn, May 2008).It went on to say, â€Å"The Republicans, meanwhile, recycled some of their old proposals to increase domestic production, with bills that would allow drilling in the Arctic, as well as in the Atlantic and Pacific, and would mandate increased production of fuel derived from coal† (Herszenhorn, May 2008). All we hear is more rhetoric and no ideas how to help the consumer. This is not only an ethical issue; it points the arrow of social responsibility to the Government that should have the American public’s best interests at heart. As of this month, November 2010, â€Å"The number of unemployed persons, at 14. million, was little changed in October. The unemployment rate remained at 9. 6 percent and has been essentially unchanged since May† (BLS, November 2010). And yet, fuel prices still continue to rise. In Addition, the environment will continue to suffer as talks continue about drilling in North America to distance ourselves from foreign oil. Unable to locate the article, my father told me about a news article he read several years ago that came from the oil industry. The premise was if the US no longer needed foreign oil or were to even be able to cut usage by one third, the global economy would fall apart.It sure is hard to believe that every time I pull up to the pump to fill the tank†¦ It would seem from not just a national perspective but also a global perspective, we as consumers are in a situation that will never change. As consumers look to the Federal Government to reign in the oil companies, the price at the pump continues to rise. It is difficult to know who is lying and telling the truth as it relates to oil. In addition, what becomes the cutoff point when I am deciding what price I am willing to pay at the pump?It seems clear that our government will not be helping to curb oil price increases. OPEC will continue to do as they see fit and the US oil companies will raise prices as every holiday approaches and/or for whatever reason they see fit. Does it really matter? When it comes to the price of oil, the consumer cannot get the straight truth out of anyone. As we continue to read in the news about the push for alternative energy sources, the discussion continues among my friends that getting away from oil will probably never happen, in our lifetime.

To investigate and demonstrate how the different wavelengths of red and blue light differ by finding their focal lengths using a converging lens Essays

To investigate and demonstrate how the different wavelengths of red and blue light differ by finding their focal lengths using a converging lens Essays To investigate and demonstrate how the different wavelengths of red and blue light differ by finding their focal lengths using a converging lens Essay To investigate and demonstrate how the different wavelengths of red and blue light differ by finding their focal lengths using a converging lens Essay Aim To investigate and demonstrate how the different wavelengths of red and blue light differ by finding their focal lengths using a converging lens. Apparatus * Red and Blue LEDs (light emitting diodes) * Wires to connect apparatus together * Power supply and mains access to control voltage supplied to the LEDs * Ruler in cm and mm * Converging lens * Blocks to adjust height of components Safety This experiment is relatively safe and there are few hazards. However I will be aware throughout the experiment of the electrical components thus minimising any risk of electric shock. Although LEDs them selves do not get sufficiently hot enough to burn skin the wires may get quite hot if the current passing through them is high enough. If I conduct the experiment with a high voltage not only may the LEDs fuse, the brightness of them may harm my eyes if they are looked at continuously. To reduce this effect I shall have a small voltage but with a high enough brightness within the LED to obtain accurate results. Chromatic Aberration Different wavelengths are refracted by different amounts. The refractive index is different for different colours. This leads to an effect called chromatic aberration. A simple lens has different focal lengths at different wavelengths (Colours). This is because the different colours have been refracted through the glass with different amounts. A well made lens therefore will give a sharp image in any single colour but the image will be blurred by the out-of-focus images of all the other colours combined that will have focused at other points beyond the lens. This experiment should show by how much the two extreme visible colours (red and blue) are refracted. Variables There are many different variables within this particular experiment. For example, it is possible to move the screen or the converging lens or the LED or any combination of the three components. Any of these ways will result in a change in the lens to object distance (u) and therefore a change in the lens to image distance (v). Thus producing an average result for the focal length of a specific wavelength (colour). I will measure u and v by moving the screen and the converging lens. By using this method I will be able to obtain the largest amount of corresponding pairs without the need to an extensive amount of space to conduct the experiment. As one length increases the other should decrease and my readings should be more consistent then if the area I was working with was large. A larger working area would lead to a larger possibility of greater inaccuracies within my findings. I will also repeat certain values of u to obtain an average v thus a more accurate focal length. The quality of the lens will affect me from comparing my results to that of a similar experiment. This is because lenses have other aberrations to take into consideration, along with the specific quality of the glass (does the quality differ within a lens?) and the fact that a perfect lens will not produce a perfect image because the different wavelengths will focus at different points. Using all these varying factors it is possible to determine that it will be very unlikely for any two lenses to be exactly compatible. Method * Assemble all of the equipment. * Fasten a metre ruler onto a tabletop running horizontally and ensure that when you fasten the LED down to the end of the ruler the filament of the LED is at 0mm. * Adjust height of all the components to ensure that the centre of the lens is level with the LED filament. * Turn on the electricity and move the lens and screen until a focused image is produced upon the screen. * Take down both u and v distances onto a table. * Remove the screen and then place it down again and focus the image without moving the lens. * Record the second reading for v and repeat once more to obtain a third reading for the specific u. * Repeat for other u readings. * Tidy away the equipment properly. Data Treatment. All u and v measurements will be taken in mm and only accurate to a mm because thats the smallest possible division on the metre ruler. The lens formula: 1 + 1 = 1 u v f u = Object to lens distance (mm) v = Lens to image distance (mm) f = Focal length (the distance from the centre of the converging lens to the principle focus of the lens i.e. the clearest image distance) When analysing my data I shall draw a graph. 1/u = 1/f 1/v by rearranging the equation like this I am able to see that y = c mx. Y = 1/u C = 1/f M = 1/v I shall plot 1/u against 1/v. If my results are accurate I should find that because my scales will be the same and the pairings should correspond to each other. I will produce a graph with the gradient of -1. This will also give my straight line an angle of 45à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ with the x-axis. The point where the graph cuts the axes should by the same and they should both correspond to 1/f. Prediction Graph: With my graph I will be able to draw both the minimum and maximum lines of best fit to obtain an uncertainty reading. If my two uncertainty readings overlap I can conclude that my experiment was not completely conclusive in demonstrating the aim. It is difficult to obtain precise readings for v because it is everybodys individual perception of a focused image that is recorded. All of my readings will be consistent because it is only me who is estimating when the image is focused, this ensures that is the images are not all precisely focused they will all be out by the same amount.

Meaning of Different Surnames on Your Y-DNA Results

Meaning of Different Surnames on Your Y-DNA Results Even though Y-DNA follows the direct male line, matches with surnames other than your own can occur. This can be disconcerting for many until you realize that there are several possible explanations. If your Y-DNA marker results closely match an individual with a different surname, and your genealogy research does not seem to indicate a past adoption or extra-marital event in the family line (often referred to as a non-paternity event), then the match may be the result of any of the following: 1. Your Common Ancestor Lived Prior to the Establishment of Surnames The common ancestor you share with individuals of different surnames on the Y-DNA line may be many, many generations back in your family tree, prior to the establishment of hereditary surnames. This is the most likely reason for populations where a surname that passes down unchanged from generation to generation was often not adopted until a century or two ago, such as Scandinavian and Jewish populations 2.  Convergence Has Occurred Sometimes mutations can occur through many generations in completely unrelated families which result in matching haplotypes in the present time frame. Basically, with enough time and enough possible combinations of mutations, it is possible to end up with matching or closely matching Y-DNA marker results in individuals who do not share a common ancestor on the male line. Convergence is more plausible in individuals belonging to common haplogroups. 3.  A Branch of the Family Adopted a Different Surname Another common explanation for unexpected matches with different surnames is that either your or your DNA matchs branch of the family adopted a different surname at some point. A change in surname often takes place around the time of an immigration event but may have occurred at any point in your family tree for any one of a number of different reasons (i.e. children adopted the name of their step-father). The likelihood of each of these possible explanations depends, in part, on how common or rare your paternal haplogroup is (your Y-DNA matches all have the same haplogroup as you). Individuals in the very common R1b1b2 haplogroup, for example, will likely find they match many people with different surnames. These matches are likely the result of convergence, or of a common ancestor who lived prior to the adoption of surnames. If you have a more rare haplogroup such as G2, a match with a different surname (especially if there are several matches with that same surname) is much more likely to indicate a possible unknown adoption, a first husband you may not have discovered, or an extramarital event. Where Do I Go Next? When you match a man with a different surname and you are both interested in learning more about how far back your common ancestor likely lived, or whether there may be a possibility of adoption or other non-paternal events, there are several steps you can take next: Upgrade the Y-DNA test to 111 markers (or at least 67) for both you and your match. If you both match with only 1 or 2 mutations at that level then you are likely to connect within a fairly recent genealogical time frame (7th cousins or closer)Find a second person to DNA test from both your line and your matchs line. This will need to be another male relative on your direct paternal line, preferably as far back as possible on the line based on generation, not age. If both of the new men tested also match each other as well as the two original test takers, this further confirms the genealogical connection.Go through the genealogical research done on the direct male ancestors of the two matching men with a fine-tooth comb, looking for locations that each family may have had in common. Were any of their ancestors neighbors in the same county? Or perhaps attended the same church? This may help you to determine in which generation the common ancestor likely lived.

HOUSE CONSTRUCTION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

HOUSE CONSTRUCTION - Essay Example Good design for low-rise housing has to focus on the increasing density at the same time without conceding the comfort of the existing residents. However, this design has to contribute confidently to the character of the locality while offering high-value public domain. Good house designs should not need expensive construction materials and techniques but offer creativity to produce well-designed houses that are smaller, more suitable and have lower running coast. Good low-rise housing designs of infill residential projects are important to promote community acceptance and understanding of the issue of higher densities present in the suburban regions. A major factor in housing cost is the provision of parking space. Notably, about 30% of apartment structures are for below-ground car parking (Stephenson, 2011). However, there is a possibility to lower the cost of building a house by reducing car parking especially if the site for the house is close to public transport means. The site areas used for access driveways and garaging can be reduced. This will leave more land that can be used as a private open place, residential amenity or for tree planting. In the past decades, low-rise house development in Conventry, UK has mainly focused on space in order to achieve good amenity. However, design creativity is now required at both high and medium densities. More detailed ideas are needed concerning the relationship between buildings and their neighbors and the streetscapes. The details should also provide information on vegetation benefits at each location and how to maximize the landscaping. The increase in the density of housing that exists in the suburbs is a problem that needs a solution. The issue of density is sometimes a cause of distress within a given community. The house design present in this paper reveals the fact that medium-density housing does not require to be achieved through the process of high-rise development. The organization of this housing