The Women who made their marks in the History of Space Travel Essay Example

The Women who made their marks in the History of Space Travel Essay Space travel indeed is the utmost adventure ever to ignite the interest of the human race to explore the unknown.   It is their chance to explore the moon, the planets, the stars and beyond.   Giant rockets lift off with roaring blast of orange flame.   They reach for the blue skies and leave a trail of white line.   They are headed into space where the vast skies above them are all black.   The only light that shines are that of the guiding stars which look down upon them. Astronauts and cosmonauts gamble their lives in the look out for information about the earth, moon, planets, stars and the effects of weightlessness on human beings and other living things.   The National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA chooses two kinds of astronauts for space flights – pilot astronauts and mission specialists.   Pilot astronauts command and control spacecraft.   Mission specialists take care of the spacecraft and its equipment, conducts tests, puts into orbit the satellites and carries out the other activities (Hamilton, 2001). The space shuttle was the first manned spacecraft intended to be reusable.   It allows space flights to be scheduled on a routine basis.   On a typical mission, the shuttle rockets into space with its crew, remains in orbit for about a week, and then lands on the earth like an airplane.   It can be ready for another flight in about four weeks (Imaginova Corporation, 2008). (Photo of a space shuttle. KTB, â€Å"Space Shuttle,† 2008) We will write a custom essay sample on The Women who made their marks in the History of Space Travel specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Women who made their marks in the History of Space Travel specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Women who made their marks in the History of Space Travel specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The space shuttles were designed to carry artificial satellites, space probes, and other heavy loads into orbit around the earth.   Other spacecraft can launch such objects, but only the space shuttle can be reused.   Each shuttle was intended to be used more then 100 times.   In addition to launch operations, the shuttles can recover artificial satellites that need repair.   Satellites that cannot be repaired in space can be brought back to the Earth and then sends – off again after they are serviced.   The shuttle also could permit astronauts to create and maintain manned space stations and solar power stations in earth orbit (Imaginova Corporation, 2008). The first woman in space, cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, made 45 revolutions around the earth in 1963.   Twenty years later, astronaut Sally K. Ride became the first American woman in space.   In June 1983, Ride orbited the earth with four other crew members on a six – day mission aboard the space shuttle Challenger (Hamilton, 2001). During the early years of the space age, success in space became a measure of a country’s leadership in science, engineering and national defense.   As a result, the United States and the Soviet Union competed with one another in developing their space programs.   Each of them, for example, sought to build better rockets and spacecrafts than the other in order to reach the moon initially (Hamilton, 2001). Many people tried to compare the space accomplishments of the United States and the Soviet Union to see which country was â€Å"ahead.†Ã‚   But differences in the two space programs made comparisons difficult.   In the early 1960’s, the Soviet Union had powerful rockets that could launch heavy spacecraft on long flights.   But the United States led in the number of scientific spacecraft that it had launched, and in such fields as communication and weather – reporting by satellite (Hamilton, 2001). By the early 1970’s, U.S. astronauts had landed on the moon.   Unmanned Soviet spacecraft had explored the moon and brought soil samples to the earth.   Manned exploration of the moon by the United States ended in 1972.   Both countries experimented with manned space stations that orbited the earth.   Nevertheless, both nations began to realize that they could benefit from working together on selected scientific projects (Hamilton, 2001). Geraldyn â€Å"Jerrie† M. Cobb Geraldyn Cobb did not wait too long to earn her achievements.   Starting young, she already been receiving recognitions for the things people her age or even older can only dream to have accomplished.   While kids her age were kept busy by concerns regarding school and the adolescent life, they young Jerrie is set to leave her mark in history (About.com, 2008). (Photo of astronaut Geraldyn Cobb. Womenfly, â€Å"Jerrie Cobb,† 2008) Aboard the backseat of the 1936 model open – cockpit Waco biplane piloted by Lieutenant Colonel William H. Cobb, his daughter, Jerrie, then just 12 years of age was launched into her maiden flight.   At the tender age of 16, Jerrie received her license as a private pilot from the Oklahoma City Classen High School.   Her license as a commercial pilot on the other hand was bestowed upon her when she turned eighteen.   Not so long after, she has also earned her Flight Instructor Rating among other accomplishments (About.com, 2008). Cobb’s romance with a co – pilot met its tragic conclusion after his airplane blasted over the depths of the Pacific.   Theirs was a romance that lasted for only about three years.   Nonetheless, Cobb’s career as a commercial pilot made it possible for her to establish various world records of altitude and speed.   She made history aboard the airplanes constructed by the Aero Design and Engineering Company.   The Oklahoma – based company dubbed their airplanes as the Aero Commanders (About.com, 2008). Wally Funk (Photo of astronaut Wally Funk. Heroines in Aviation, â€Å"Photo of Wally Funk,† 2008) The year was 1961 when Toas, New Mexico’s Wally Funk was lined up together with 12 other women to join the â€Å"Women in Space† program.   The women came to be called the Mercury 13.   Unfortunately, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration cancelled the program at the latter part of the same year.   Two years after the sad plight of the Mercury 13 women, cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova of the Soviet Union flew into space.   Nevertheless, the women of the United States did not lose heart to fulfill their dreams of flying into space.   It took several years for this dream to be realized.   Come the year 1983 when astronaut Sally Ride made history by tearing down the barrier that denied access for women to explore the universe.   This was the sex barrier that hindered Funk and the rest of the American women of their supposed maiden voyage into space.   Ride flew into space via the Challenger STS – 7 to fulfill the mission and dream she shar es with Funk and company (Burbank, 2003). Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova (Photo of cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkva. BHTimes, â€Å"Valentina Tereshkova,† 2008) The Vostok was the first manned spacecraft of the Soviet Union.   From the year 1961 until 1963, there has been a total of six Vostok spacecrafts that took off into space.   Each of these six vehicles carried one cosmonaut per voyage.   This spacecraft were designed to perfect the technology of spacecraft and also to examine the reactions of the human being to space exploration (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2006). The first woman ever to set her foot into space was a cosmonaut by the name of Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova.   The Soviet Union’s Tereshkova flew into space via the Vostok 6 that went into orbit on the sixteenth day of June in the year 1963.   Her flight lasted almost three whole days.   In this voyage, Tereshkova did not just earned pride for her country but represented the women from the rest of the globe proving that women can do what other’s believe can only made possible by the male of species.   For a woman who holds no experience in pilot testing, Tereshkova making history is really astounding.   Aboard the Vostok V1, Tereshkova was able to revolve around the earth for 45 times.   Another space flight that carried Vallery F. Bykovsky, also a Soviet cosmonaut was in orbit at the same time as Tereshkova.   Bykovsky was launched two days earlier than Terehskova.   He took off into space for a 70 – hour and 50 – minute space flight that begun on the sixteenth day until the nineteenth day of June in the year 1963.   An approximate distance of 3 miles separated the vechiles carrying Bykovsky and Tereshkova during the mission.   The dual mission was carried out for the purpose of concurrently observing the reactions of a man and woman soaring in space, as the Soviet officials would have it (Wade, 2007; National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2006). Tereshkova made a single orbit around the earth for every 88 minutes during the mission that changed the history of space travel.   The highest point in the orbit refereed to as the apogee lifted Tereshkova at approximately 130 above the earth.   On the other hand, she was about 108 above the earth at the perigee or the lowest point in orbit.   The spacecraft that made a it possible for Tereshkova to fulfill her historical mission was maneuver by manual controls (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2006). Sally Kristen Ride Sally Kristen Ride aboard the STS – 7, which took off to explore the space on the eighteenth day until the twenty – fourth day of June in the year 1983 became the first American woman to reach the space.   The STS – 7 was the seventh space shuttle mission launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.   This exploration placed Ride among the top three women to reach the space joining the ranks of the Soviet Union’s Valentina Tereshkova and Svetlana Savitskaya.   Tereshkova landed into space aboard the Vostok 6 while Savitskaya’s voyage into space happened on the nineteenth day of August in the year 1982 aboard the Soyuz T –7 (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2006). Sally Kristen Ride was a United States astronaut who became the first American woman to travel in space.   In June 1983, she and astronaut Robert L. Crippen, John M. Fabian, Frederick H. Hauck and Norman E. Thagard made a six – day flight on the space shuttle Challenger (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2006). (Photo of astronaut Sally Ride. ASU, â€Å"Sally Ride Science Festival,† 2008) During the mission, Ride and Fabian launched communication satellites for the Canadian and Indonesian governments and conducted experiments involving the production of pharmaceuticals.   In addition, they tested the shuttle’s remote manipulator arm.   They used the arm to release a satellite and then retrieve it and place it in the shuttle’s cargo area (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2006). Ride made her second shuttle flight in October 1984.   On this mission, she used the remote manipulator arm to launch a satellite designed to measure the sun’s effect on the earth’s weather (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2006). On January 28, 1986, Challenger exploded shortly after take – off, killing all seven members of its crew.   In February, Ride was appointed to the presidential commission that was established to investigate the accident (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2006). Kathryn â€Å"Kathy† Sullivan Kathryn Sullivan made history on the eleventh day of October in the year 1984 by being the first American woman to take part in an Extra – Vehicular Activity or EVA aboard the STS – 41 – G (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2006). (Photo of astronaut Kathryn Sullivan. NASA, â€Å"Kathryn Sullivan,† 2008) Shannon Lucid (Photo of astronaut Shannon Lucid. NASA, â€Å"Shannon Lucid,† 2008) Born in China on the fourteenth day of January in the year 1943 was Shannon Lucid who would later leave her mark in the history of space travel being as the woman who carrying the world record for the most amount of time consumed in space.   As an American astronaut, Lucid logged over 223 days in space aboard flights that amounted to a total of five throughout her career.   The year was 1985 when she first took off to space via the STS – 51 G.   This space flight set up three satellites.   This maiden flight of Lucid was followed in the year 1989 via the STS – 34 this time around.   The STS – 34 set up the spacecraft named Gallileo.   The aforementioned spacecraft set off to discover the mysteries of the planet Jupiter (Windows to Universe, 2000). Mae C. Jemison (Photo of astronaut and doctor Mae Jemison. Britannica.com, â€Å"Mae Jemison,† 2008) It was on the twelfth day of September in the year 1992 when the first African – American woman made her way to explore the universe.   Mae Jemison, an astronaut and a doctor was launched into space via the Endeavor space shuttle.   She made history being the first woman of color to be able to set her sights and actually realize of venturing the unknown world beyond the Earth (NASA Quest, 2008). As a science and mission specialist aboard the STS – 47 Spacelab J, Dr. Jemison was set for yet another space exploration.   The set mission is a collaboration of two nations specifically the U.S. and Japan.   It was a mission that lasted for about 8 days.   It was able to make 127 successful revolutions around the Earth.   The spacecraft carried with it a total of 44 resources processing and life science paraphernalia from both countries.   Jemison was tasked to be the co – investigate the bone cell research test during the voyage.   The Endeavor took off and landed back at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida with the rest of its crew all safe and sound.   In her maiden flight, Dr. Jemison was able to register a total of 190 hours and 30 minutes of time spent in space (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1993). She is dedicated in making sure that the people of the United States, regardless on sex, race and ethnic diversity are very well represented especially in the science and technology fields of study.   Dr. Jemison support all people particularly the women and those who belong to the cultural minority to chase their preferred careers at all costs (NASA Quest, 2008). Being a promoter of science and technology that she is, Dr. Jemison is working on enhancing the reputation being projected by the scientists.   She proposes something fresh and revolutionary to the scientific field: a mixture of both the hard and social sciences.   In the scientific world that we are in today, it is necessary that the scientist is aware, alarmed and active not just within his field but also in the society where he belongs.   Moreover, it is of significant importance that the people have a tight grasp of how the sciences and the technological advancements it brings with it are able to impact the world they live in.   The Jemison Group, Inc. which she founded exists to explore, build on and execute sophisticated technologies tailor made to fit perfectly into the overall framework of a person particularly the progressing world encompassing the economic, social, cultural and political respects all together (NASA Quest, 200). Judith Arlene Resnik (Photo of astronaut Judy Resnik. Space Facts, â€Å"Judy Resnik,† 2008) January 28, 1986 was one fateful date in all of space history.   It was when tragedy struck the shuttle mission’s 25th manned flight as the Challenger space shuttle exploded shortly after its liftoff.   This unfortunate event caused the suspension of the space shuttle fleets scheduled prior to the accident.   It has also forced the engineers to do a major redesign of the different components of the spacecraft.   The launch of the Discovery on the 29th day of September in the year 1988 marked the successful resumption of the space shuttle program (Time Inc., 2008). (Photo of astronaut Judith Resnik. Space Facts, â€Å"Judith Resnik,† 2008) Judith Arlene Resnik perhaps was the most stanch and indomitable astronaut, man or woman ever to come into uniform in the history of space exploration.   The year was 1994 when doctor and astronaut Resnik took off to her maiden flight to space via the space shuttle Discovery.   As the mission specialist for the said voyage, she was tasked to work on the remote – control arm of the spaceship.   Her task also included the examinations of the solar power by means of a solar sail measuring at about 102 feet in height (Time Inc., 2008). It was aboard the STS 41 – D that Resnik made her maiden voyage as a mission specialist.   The spacecraft was lifted off to space on the thirtieth day of August in the year 1984 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States of America.   It carried the crew on a mission that lasted for seven days.   During the mission, the OAST – 1 solar cell wing test was successfully set into motion.   STS 41 – D’s mission to space also set up three satellites namely the TELSTAR 3 – C, SBS – D and the SYNCOM IV – 2.   In addition, it activated the CFES – III project, the undergraduate crystal growth project and the cinematography tests utilizing the motion picture camera called the IMAX.  Ã‚   The STS 41 – D was dubbed as the â€Å"Icebusters† since they proved to be a success in eliminating the orbiter off the harmful ice particles utilizing the remote manipulator system.   The spacecraft was able to make 9 6 successful revolutions around the Earth before heading back on the fifth day of September in the year 1984 at the Edwards Air Force Base in California.   Throughout the course of her career, Resnik was able to register a total of 144 hours and 57 minutes of time spent in space (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2003). Resnik’s initial mission as an astronaut and a mission specialist was aboard the orbiter Discovery.   She took off into via the spacecraft that made a total of 96 revolutions around the Earth.   It was her first outer space exploration.   The Discovery mission made it possible for Resnik to be the second U.S. woman in space following the lead of Sally Ride (The Astronuats Memorial Foundation, 2007). At yet another chance to set off for space, luck was not anymore on Resnik’s side.   As the Challenger STS 51 –L exploded just a minute and thirteen seconds following its lift off.   Resnik met the face of death on the twenty – eight day of January in the year 1986.   All of 36 years old, she made the supreme sacrifice and while she breathed her last while in the service of the country and the shuttle program doing what she does best (The Astronauts Memorial Foundation, 2007). Among other assignments, she was meant to aid in capturing the Halley’s comment in photo.   At the time of her death, a ring and a locket in the shape of a heart was seen by her side.   The two items was believed to be for her nephew and niece.   For a Judy Resnik, peril is just about another unfamiliar ground that must be sought and mastered.   Just like the rest of the Jews who came before her, Judith â€Å"Judy† Resnik will live in the legacy as one of those who attempted and successfully contributed to the advancement of their country.   Her life is but a significant reminder of the noble deed she dared to deliver even at her own expense (Brody, 2008). Eileen Marie Collins United States of America Force Lieutenant Eileen Marie Collins carries one too many firsts under her belt.   Collins was the first woman chosen to pilot a space shuttle.   Also, as if luck never left her side, Collins was able to make another history by being the first woman commander of a space shuttle (NASA Quest, 2007). (Photo of astronaut Eileen Collins. Embassy of France in the US, â€Å"Eileen Collins,† 2008) Hopes were on high for a space shuttle to fulfill the mission that was formerly placed under the shoulders of the fateful Columbia mission.   The tragedy put an end to the lives of all of seven of its crew aboard Columbia.   Collins was tasked to be the space shuttle commander that took off of to be the first space shuttle following the tragedy of the 2003 Columbia mission.   Collins’ voyage was thought out to signal to the potential of manned space explorations.   For the concentration of the mission was to investigate the latest protective procedures and repair measures.   The crowd cannot help but give out a breath of relief when they witnessed the successful flight back to Earth of the seven person crew aboard the shuttle on the tenth day of August in the year 2005, carrying Collins as one of them   (Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2006). Collins’ career marked several first not just for herself alone.   Her achievements left significant milestone throughout the space travel history as a whole.   The year was 1995 when she obtained the controls of the Discovery setting for herself and for the women the world over a record as the first space shuttle pilot.   The space shuttle by definition is a manned spacecraft at short operations utilized to carry crews and equipment into orbit to deliver a certain function.   The Discovery launched in the year 1995 carried with itself the task to recover an astronomy satellite.   Such satellite is a device that travels around in space and transmits lucid cosmological images back to the Earth for purposes of examination (Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2006). The historical mission of Collins the lasted for eight days of February in the year 1995 catapulted her mark in not just the space travel but in the American women’s history as well.  Ã‚   Her Discovery mission incorporated the maiden tryst with the Mir.   The Mir, which means â€Å"peace,† is the Soviet Union’s space station.   It was a mission as Collins put it that mark the initial baby leaps into the global space collaboration of the two nations who initially raced to discover the world beyond the Earth (National Women’s Hall of Fame, 2008). Aboard the STS – 93 which was the first space shuttle commanded by a woman, Collins took off to space on this voyage from the twenty – third day until the twenty – seventh day of July in the year 1999.   The STS – 114 that launched into space on the twenty sixth day of July in the year 2005 also had Collins as its commander.   Piloting the STS – 63, the first space shuttle led by a woman took her for a space exploration from the third day until the eleventh day of February in the year 1995.   She piloted back to the earth aboard the STS – 84 (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2006). Humanity has always wanted to explore the vast horizon.   It must be a dictate of human nature to investigate the mysteries of the world and beyond. Many people believe that space exploration is a must simply because we are equipped to examine what is out there.   Flight to space has begun a long time ago and it is not headed towards an end anytime soon.   For the scientists who share humanity’s thirst and fascination for space discovery continue to seek and find the answers to the inquiries that haunt the human mind about the secrets of the universe.   They find ways to know more about the planets other than the earth as well as all the other things that exists out there.   It is an attempt to conquer the place beyond the blinding horizon into the other worlds.   It is but a challenge to human excellence and expertise as they put all efforts and even their own lives at stake to give meaning to the uncertainties of the universe at large and to know if the human rac e is not alone in the greater scheme of the cosmos. References About.com. (2008). Womens History. 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Retrieved March 22, 2008, from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.slimeland.com/images/pictures/SpaceBowling.jpgimgrefurl=http://www.slimeland.com/images/h=700w=1400sz=185hl=enstart=3tbnid=OwkhKc2wuFRuxM:tbnh=75tbnw=150prev=/images%3Fq%3Dspace%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Space Shuttle. KTB. (2008). Retrieved March 22, 2008, from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ktb.net/~billmeco/STS114SpacePage.jpgimgrefurl=http://www.ktb.net/~billmeco/space.htmlh=381w=575sz=54hl=enstart=6tbnid=BjxD5hRQmsnKQM:tbnh=89tbnw=134prev=/images%3Fq%3Dspace%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Jerrie Cobb. Womenfly. (2007). Retrieved March 22, 2008, from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.womenfly.com/khxc/media/ccp0/prodsm/Jerrie2007sm.jpgimgrefurl=http://womenfly.com/khxc/ccp0-catshow/Aviators.htmlh=100w=100sz=4hl=enstart=38tbnid=41Jh7m1m_usQMM:tbnh=82tbnw=82prev=/images%3Fq%3Djerrie%2Bcobb%26start%3D20%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Photo of Wally Funk. Heroines in Aviation. (2008). Retrieved March 22, 2008, from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.webswithwings.com/wcc/heroines/photos/wally.jpgimgrefurl=http://www.webswithwings.com/wcc/heroines/wally.htmlh=335w=291sz=19hl=enstart=3tbnid=oU20iamiRuv7jM:tbnh=119tbnw=103prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwally%2Bfunk%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Valentina Tereshkova. BHTimes. (2007). Retrieved March 22, 2008, from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en-commons/thumb/e/e4/250px-Tereshkova_L,0.jpgimgrefurl=http://bhtimes.blogspot.com/2007_03_09_archive.htmlh=265w=249sz=56hl=enstart=6tbnid=Zz7Sw_OARzMATM:tbnh=112tbnw=105prev=/images%3Fq%3Dvalentina%2Btereshkova%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sally Ride Science Festival. Arizona State University. (2007). Retrieved March 22, 2008, from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.asu.edu/news/stories/200702/images/20070220_wendylawrence.jpgimgrefurl=http://www.asu.edu/news/stories/200702/20070220_sallyride.htmh=376w=300sz=31hl=enstart=13tbnid=i0x4d2lFnbgGxM:tbnh=122tbnw=97prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsally%2Bride%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG. 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Kathryn Sullivan. NASA. (2008). Retrieved March 22, 2008, from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pd.astro.it/othersites/sc/Images/StarChild/space_level2/kathryn_sullivan_big.gifimgrefurl=http://www.pd.astro.it/othersites/sc/starchild/space_level2/kathryn_sullivan.htmlh=480w=396sz=124hl=enstart=1tbnid=s2E8ma7rVCB0MM:tbnh=129tbnw=106prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkathryn%2Bsullivan%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den. 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shannon Lucid. NASA. (2008). Retrieved March 22, 2008, from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/newsletter/html_Mir/images/lucid.jpgimgrefurl=http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/newsletter/html_Mir/earth_science.htmh=362w=387sz=52hl=enstart=10tbnid=WIyHGHNEpcMIEM:tbnh=115tbnw=123prev=/images%3Fq%3Dshannon%2Blucid%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den. 9.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mae Jemison. Britannica.com. (2008). Retrieved March 22, 2008, from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://updatecenter.britannica.com/eb/image%3FbinaryId%3D93242%26rendTypeId%3D4imgrefurl=http://updatecenter.britannica.com/art%3FassemblyId%3D87408%26type%3DAh=450w=475sz=59hl=enstart=2tbnid=hyvN8voGIJ6RQM:tbnh=122tbnw=129prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmae%2Bjemison%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den. 10.   Judith Resnik. Space Facts. (2008). Retrieved March 22, 2008, from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.spacefacts.de/more/astronauts/photo/resnik_judith_1.jpgimgrefurl=http://www.spacefacts.de/more/astronauts/page/resnik_judith.htmh=340w=269sz=38hl=enstart=5tbnid=gTLFWdX5O-erdM:tbnh=119tbnw=94prev=/images%3Fq%3Djudy%2Bresnik%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den. 11.   Eileen Collins. Embassy of France in the United States. (2008). 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Free Essays on Rocks And Sand

IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rock, rock about 2" in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agree that it was. So the professor then picked a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The students laughed. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. "Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your health, and your children- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff." "If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal." "Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."... Free Essays on Rocks And Sand Free Essays on Rocks And Sand IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rock, rock about 2" in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agree that it was. So the professor then picked a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The students laughed. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. "Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your health, and your children- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff." "If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal." "Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."...

Contemporary Issues in HRM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Contemporary Issues in HRM - Essay Example When this happens organizations remain satisfied with single-loop learning or adaptive learning but unless this is supported by double-loop learning or generative learning, no growth can take place. Organizational culture plays a vital role in organization learning towards improvement and growth. Organizations must provide an environment of empowerment, encouragement and flexibility for the individual employee to take risks and be creative. Failures too have to be celebrated. The environment should not stifle the employees. The organizational environment at Starbucks, the specialty coffee retailer, was looked into and it has been found that while they do encourage contributions from their employees, learning is stagnant. The workers are trained for 25 hours once they join but the same procedures and training is imparted. Growth and success of an organization is not measured by low staff turnover or high sales figures. Innovation and creativity ensures a long-term strategy whereas foc us on sales is a short-term strategy. While the origin of the company lies in cognitive learning but no further innovation has taken place. The company has not yet been able to find a solution to the single-use paper cups in which coffee is served to those who do not wish to consume coffee in-store. The company has not provided an environment in which employees can find ways to develop a solution. There is reliance on legislation and government support but learning has to come from within. The employees have stock options and which most exercise. Hence, they should also be responsible for finding a solution for the cups. This can come through when the organization engages in double-loop learning and when personal mastery and team work is applied as organizational discipline. Suggestions for improving the organizational learning have been provided. These include training the front-line staff in convincing the customers and making it mandatory for the corporate executives to serve one shift at the counter every now and then. It is expected that these suggestion would bring about a change in the learning environment. When managers started facing competitive pressures and declining productivity, the traditional management practices were threatened. While the situation warranted new strategies and structure, the traditional habits, norms and assumptions became hindering blocks (Senge & Sterman, 1992). Change in strategy must be preceded by change in thinking. Managers and academics then recognized organizational learning as a process that could change shared understandings, and as a key to competitive advantage. Organizational learning can enhance the competencies of both employees and entire organizations. Learning has also been recognized as a route to achieve competitive advantage (Chaston, Badger, Mangles & Sadler-Smith, 2001). This is the reason that there have been contributions on the subject from the perspectives of psychology, management science, strategic management, production management, sociology and cultural anthropology (Chaston, Badger & Sadler-Smith, 1999). However, while all agree that organizational learning is a good thing there is little consensus on what organizational learning really is (Teare & Pantin, 2003). Being a complex concept, there is yet no widely accepted definition of organizational le

Learning to Read and Write Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Learning to Read and Write - Essay Example This   paper outlines that at the initial stages, Mrs. Hugh taught Douglass how to read but she stopped once she took the same perception like her husband towards slavery. Despite at the initial stages encouraging Douglass to learn, she became one of the chief opposer of the idea and worked towards halting the process through any available means. Douglass would carry a book along with him and request the white children to help him read the book once he met them on the way as he run his daily errands. â€Å"The Columbian Orator,† a book Douglass acquired during the age of twelve years proved to be of great interest to him as he learnt a dialogue between a slave and his ,master where the slave managed to negotiate the terms of his working conditions having tried to escape for three times. From this paper it is clear that the book equally helps Douglass to learn about the travesty of slavery as well as loathing the master holds towards his slaves. Douglass is worried upon realizing the burden he carries after knowing how to read where while thinking about death as well as an abolitionist movement, he makes a decision to escape from the life of slavery but again believes he is too young for such. Consequently, Douglass figures another obstacle to his escape as he realizes that he had no writing skills that he feels he needs to learn in order to run away once he possesses the two concepts. Douglass takes some more years at his master’s place and continues with his goal towards learning how to write. After a number of years with the help of the white children, â€Å"finally succeeds in learning and writing.†   The journey towards Douglass achievement of learning and writing is therefore challenging and full of obstacles but he eventually achieves his goals despite taking a number of years where his eyes opens a lot.

The Value of University Education Research Paper

The Value of University Education - Research Paper Example Gradual developments in the field of educational grading and prescribed patterns of course designs in various trades evolved the institution of higher education centers called the universities. Presently, the academic sector of the entire globe is monitored by different universities according to the standards and expectations set by them. As the employment sector has grown enormously out of proportion with equal rise in merit expectations and with the conceptual development in business thoughts, employers have identified the need for acquiring high-end brains among the university graduates. Under the prevailing conditions in which successful university education is becoming the paramount demand for acquiring a position in better companies, a comparative study of the values of the two educational streams – university graduation and high school graduation – is necessary for better understanding the prospects of the students from either stream. Strength of University Gradu ation The prime edge of the university education is it adds value to the knowledge of individuals from the socio-ethical perspective beyond the limited time-bound courses most of the students learn for fixing their position in the job market. While studying in a university campus, the students get elaborate exposure to different cultural and ethnic groups. This exposure takes them to the heights where they shine in the glory of technical aspects of their educational trade with ethical concern and social responsibility. According to certain observations â€Å"university degrees provide students with the knowledge and skills that help make their lives meaningful and rewarding, and strengthen their contributions to society† (â€Å"Ensuring the values†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). A graduation from a reputed university doubtlessly guarantees all spheres of qualification for the student – spiritual strength, academic excellence, forbearance and sprit of competition, which eventually tur ns them fit for adapting to changing conditions of professional ambience. The spiritual merit of an individual plays a vital role in the formation of his successful personal life with capabilities to accept challenges and workout plans for action in a perfect way. From the academic point of view, students obtain grass-root level standard of knowledge with enough practical experiences and the element of group learning by studying in a university. The prospects of patience containing competitive spirit help students frame sufficient amount of self discipline which is a requirement for achieving higher targets. Moreover, a graduation from the university enables them to prepare themselves for better careers or for choosing higher education in various streams of excellence. The provision for graduate level expectations set by universities also helps students and educators estimate the desired standards of education students are expected to attain from their university graduation. This sy stematized training and evaluation pattern helps the hirers and policy makers in designing the courses according to the standards set for the academic as well as professional qualifications for separate careers. Benefits of university education – individuals and society The importance of higher education from a university is reflected in the field of modern business world. It also provides better living standards and stability of income for the successful candidate as the investors of business

Culture Diversity In Pakistan Cultural Studies Essay

Culture Diversity In Pakistan Cultural Studies Essay Pakistan is a country of over 165 million people with diverse social, ethnic, linguistic and cultural circumstances. The country came into existence after division of British Indian colony in 1947 on the basis of Islamic identity of people living in this region but different social and ethnic groups have maintained their distinct character. Mostly language is the basis of ethnicity in Pakistan. Punjabi is the predominant ethnic class which consists of 48% of Pakistans population. Sindhis form about 12%, Siriki (a variant of Punjabi) forms 10%, Urdu speaking (Urdu speaking population usually refers itself as Mohajirs as they migrated from India in 1947) 8%, Balochis 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1% and others 8%. 95% of Pakistans population is Muslim (75% Sunni Muslims and 20% Shia Muslims). Amongst the remaining 5% Christians are the biggest religious minority who are around 3% of the total population. Other religious groups include Hindus, Sikhs, and Ahmadis. Pakistan is predominantly a rural society where over 65.5% of population lives in the rural areas. Agriculture is the main employer of the labour force which employs over 43% of the work force. The culture and social norms of Pakistan are defined by the agrarian nature of society. The relations between men and women are dominated by the demands of agricultural sector and practices. Women in rural areas are economically more active as compared to their urban counterparts. 16.5% rural women are economically active as compared to 7.3% of the urban womenfolk. Women almost entirely manage the dairy and livestock sector in the rural areas of Pakistan. In rural Punjab the relations between men and women are more open as women play an important role in farming and without their help the farm productivity will drop significantly. Women go out of their homes to work as cotton pickers, fruit harvesters, and livestock farmers. Since men need womens help in agriculture sector therefore they have a greater liberty of movement. The relations between men and women are undergoing a change in rural Punjab after the return of migrant workers from Middle East who now insist on enforcing strict Wahabi edicts on sex segregation. This change is fuelling extremism as the economic hardships are increasing due to decrease in household incomes. Rural to urban migration, necessitated by growing poverty, has given rise to a number of female headed households which is a new phenomenon in rural areas of Punjab because traditionally women have always been treated as inferior to men and not involved in decision making. Muslims of Punjab are either converts from Hinduism or descendants of migrants from Central Asia who have lived with Hindus for centuries therefore the Hindu edict that guest is incarnation of god has a wide acceptability. Guest is treated with honour, respect and delight. Even strangers are offered food and shelter in times of need to please god with expectation that god will rewards with good harvest. Giving long term protection / shelter is generally not a part of culture in Punjab. Customs relating to marriage, death and festivals are heavily influences by Hindu traditions. A typical marriage, mourning or festival in Punjab is very similar to the corresponding Hindu occasion less the religious component, e.g. though a marriage ceremony has the same components but a Muslim marriage will have the Nikkah ceremony whereas Hindu marriage will have vows beside fire. ` Punjab has a culture of tolerance and friendship which is manifest by its sufi saints and poetry with message of universal love towards mankind irrespective of cast, religion and colour. The leading Punjabi sufi poets, such as Sultan Bahoo, Bulley Shah, Waris Shah and Mian Muhammad are all against the strict religious interpretation of Islam as propagated by Mullah. Punjab has historically been confronted with foreign invasions from North (Afghanistan and Central Asia) therefore they are quite open to foreigners and are very progressive in their cultural and social values. Urban Punjab is not much different from rural areas as most of the city dwellers are migrants from villages. Sindhis are the second biggest ethnic group in Pakistan after Punjabis. In terms of proximity to Hinduism they are even closer than Punjabis. A large number of Pakistani Hindus live in Sind province. Sindi culture is quite similar to Punjabis where they have great respect towards fellow human beings. Sindh also is the land of great mystics such as Sachal Sarmast, Shah Abdul Latheef Bhitai and Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. The predominant profession of rural Sindhi population is agriculture. However in contrast to Punjab Sindh has a large number of big landlords who own most of the cultivable land. Majority of people work as landless peasants on lands owned by big landlords. This has given rise to abuse of human rights at the hands of landlords and a culture of oppression of weaker segments of society. Women in Sindh work in the fields and tender animals like their Punjabi counterparts but are subject to more control by men. They are an object of male and tribal honour. Marriage by choice is still not an option for women whose nuptial affairs are settled by male members of the family. Honour killing, where women are killed for illicit relations with men, is often resorted to restore family and tribal honour. Sindhis are not as open to foreigners as Punjabis mainly due to limited interactions with foreign cultures. Despite being on the coastline of Arabian Sea, Sind has been invaded only once from the sea. (Arabs led by Muhammad Bin Qasim attacked Sindh in 712 AD). Modern day Sindh has strong undercurrents of movement of emancipation from the clutches of landlords. The occasional violence seen in Sindh is against the existing distribution of resources. Sindh is safe from the ongoing wave of extremism in Pakistan mainly due to liberal religious views of majority population. The tolerance and harmony that Muslims and Non Muslims enjoy in Sind is not seen elsewhere in Pakistan. Major Urban centres in Sind are dominated by the Urdu speaking migrants from India. These are the people who migrated from areas presently in India at the time of partition in 1947. They were the most advanced segment of Pakistani society at the time. They made Karachi (the capital of Pakistan before it was shifted to Islamabad) as their new home. Due to their acumen in trade and business Karachi became the financial capital of Pakistan. Mohajirs are the most liberal community in Pakistan. Their women folk are the most liberated women in Pakistan. They work in offices, hold executive positions in businesses and banks. Mohajir women are in front ranks of all walks of life including politics, senior management and community service. Mohajirs are represented by their own political party (MQM Mohajir Qaumi Movement) which is a middle class based political party and has introduced new middle class leadership in Pakistan. Urdu that is the language of Mohajirs is the national language of Pakistan. The word Urdu literally means the camp language because it was developed in the military camps of Mughal kings of India. Urdu has long been associated with Muslims of India. Despite being the language of a small minority it was declared the National language of Pakistan. This decision caused the first language riots in Pakistan in 1948 in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Despite this Urdu remains the National Language of Pakistan and is spoken in most households who are aspiring upward social mobility. Mohajirs consider themselves culturally articulate and have business relations across the world. They are open, frank and friendly towards foreigners. Their social occasions such as marriages and deaths etc are similar to the practices followed elsewhere in Pakistan but are less ostentatious in showing their wealth. The most significant thing that a new visitor to Mohajir area will note is their habit of chewing beetle leaves. Beetle leaves are seasoned with chemicals, colour and spices to chew. The red residue is then spitted in open areas and often walls and streets of Karachi are red with this waste. Pushtuns living in the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North Western Frontier Province) province trace their roots to Afghanistan. The Pushtuns are bound by their tribal code known as the Pushtun Wali (literally meaning the Pushtun way of life). Pushtun Wali has nine major components i.e. courage, taking revenge, giving shelter, generosity to defeated, self respect, justice, hospitality, tolerance and loyalty. The capital of Pushtuns of Pakistan, Peshawar is the melting pot of many cultures and civilizations. Peshawar is a city that represents Indian, Afghan, Central Asian and British civilizations at the same time. Pushtuns have produced great poets and mystics like Rahman Baba, Khushaal Khan Khattak and Pir Baba, who have all propagated the message of eternal love and adherence to Pushtun ways of life. Pushtuns are most affected by the rise of extremism in recent years. Peshawar is the centre of global war on terrorism. Thousands of Pushtuns have lost their lives in the war on either side of the extremist divide. Pushtun women observe the most extreme form of sex segregation. Women are often not allowed in public life and those who move outside their homes are covered from head to toe. Women have limited role in agricultural activities. Their role is limited to work inside their homes. However the export of labour to Middle Eastern countries in the 70s compelled men to move out of their villages and many functions previously performed exclusively by men are now being performed by women. Pushtun women become more influential and independent as they grow older. Pushtun way of dispute resolution is through a consultative process known as Jirga. Influential people of the community sit in this jirga and decide on the disputes. Often people with wealth, education and experience are all represented in a jirga. One can qualify to sit in jirga either by virtue of age, wealth or education hence this aspect of Pushtun life is quite democratic. Baluchs live in the Baluchistan province of Pakistan. They have a nomadic culture as barring a few places Baluchistan is a barren area. Water is scarce and the only means of sustenance is sheep and camel raring. Women and men work alike with herds of sheep and goat. The area of Baluchs is scarcely populated and they live in small settlements in primitive conditions. The Baluchs, like Pushtuns are proud people who guard their independence jealously. They fought valiantly against the expansion of British Empire however the British ruled Baluchistan through a series of treaties with local rulers. Baluchs also resolve their disputes through the jirga mechanism but the Baluch jirga is less representative in its constitution as mostly people sit on these jirgas as representatives of their families. The Baluch society is essentially tribal in nature and every tribe is headed by a Chief. The position of chiefs is hereditary. The tribal chief or Sardar as he is known has control over the resources of his tribe. Women are economically active but their contribution is not recognized. They do not participate in decision making at the household level. Family and tribal honour is associated with women and any woman who violates the tribal code is punished with death. Seraiki speaking people are scattered on the border areas of Punjab, Sindh and Kyber Pukhtoonkwa provinces. They have a tradition of Sufism and are liberal in their social life. These areas are resource rich but most of the land is owned by big landlords in these areas. The southern parts of Punjab that are inhabited by the Seraiki people, produces Pakistans best mangoes and cotton but the life of ordinary person is difficult. Due to economic hardships that ordinary people face, the women are economically active and contribute to the household incomes through their work as farm labour and cattle farmers. However like other areas of Pakistan their contribution is hardly acknowledged and they do not have a place in decision making at the household level.

Dancing with Athena :: Personal Narrative Teaching Essays

Dancing with Athena I shall always remember the new-kid-in-school feeling that came flooding back from childhood on my first day of student teaching. Having been in my share of new environments, I have learned deeply the power of a first impression. That first day I made it a point to look into the eyes of the young people in my classes, ignore the butterflies of trepidation fluttering in my gut, and smile bravely. Most students smiled back, some curious, others confident. Some appeared quietly guarded, while a fair number wore their seventh-grade brand of defiance and hostility on their sleeves like a badge. Over the course of my ten weeks with them, I learned to better read those faces. Students who appeared receptive or open might instead be thoroughly, benevolently disengaged. Some of those students who were quietly guarded at first needed only an invitation to open up. Others remained locked behind walls of resistance. This last disposition was the most challenging one for me to decip her into its constituent parts. Being always up for a challenge, I took it upon myself to discover my way into their bunker and understand their need for protection. I ascertained quickly that my mentor teacher took a very traditional tact in her teaching style. The division of responsibility in her seventh-grade classroom was very clear. She engaged in what Bridging English authors Joseph O. and Lucy F.M. Milner, term â€Å"total lecture† and â€Å"linear explication,† while students engaged in individual seat work (347-8). That is, the teacher went over the lessons from the book, then students were expected to complete their exercises quietly in class, pass them in, and go on to the next period. Very little attention, in my opinion, was paid to the individual or community learning needs of children in this classroom. I observed no real opportunity for students to take ownership of their learning process. Each group of students responded differently to this traditional approach. The â€Å"high achievers† class was frustrated and bored. The â€Å"inclusion† class, a group which included students with specific learning disabilities mainstreamed into a general education class, largely accepted the autocratic system and most functioned acceptably well within its expectations. The last two periods of the day were general education classes.

Comparative Study Between Ulysess and My Last Duchess Essay

Have a little read: †¦ Comparing ‘Ulysses’ by Lord Tennyson and ‘My Last Duchess’ by Robert Browning. â€Å"Ulysses† was written by Lord Tennyson and is a poem about a mythical Greek character and is a dramatic monologue. Another poem that is a dramatic monologue is â€Å"My Last Duchess†, by Robert Browning. Both poems are similar, for example they are both structured similarly, and are both different, one difference being their subject. In this essay I will compare the two poems, focusing on form, and how language helps to build up subject matter. Ulysses is a Greek mythical character, and was famous for being a pirate, ransacking villages and being a warrior. In Greek literature, Ulysses just seemed to disappear after he got home, and Tennyson decided to write about Ulysses and his thoughts after ‘retiring’ from fighting. The poem is written in verse, and seems to be either a dramatic monologue or monologue interior. It is hard to know which one, as a dramatic monologue must have a listener (other than the audience. Ulysses is talking to someone, his dead soldiers, but as they are deceased it is difficult to decide if they count as a listener to the poem. My Last Duchess† by Robert Browning was written in the same era as â€Å"Ulysses† and is written in Verse. This poem is different to â€Å"Ulysses† as this poem is about a fictional character which is created by Browning. This is a Dramatic Monologue, as the duke (the character created by Browning) is talking to the servant of the father of a possible bride. To create the effect of speech, Browning uses Iambic Pentameter, which helps to imitate the rhythm of conversational speech, and enjambment frequently. The use of language to present the subject matter is important for both poets. In Ulysses, the poet builds up a picture of the characters inactiveness by using words such as â€Å"still†, â€Å"dull† and â€Å"pause†. These adjectives create an understanding of what life is like for Ulysses, and this is then contrasted with words of his past such as â€Å"roaming†, â€Å"ringing† and â€Å"windy†. These words create a contrast between the activeness of the past, and the stillness of the present. This helps the reader imagine what life was like for the character when he was young.

Citi Trends External and Internal Environmental Analysis Essay Example

Citi Trends External and Internal Environmental Analysis Essay Example Citi Trends External and Internal Environmental Analysis Paper Citi Trends External and Internal Environmental Analysis Paper his paper will include an external and internal environmental analysis of Cit Trends, including the most important external environmental factor in the remote, industry, and operating environments, the most important internal strengths and weaknesses, an assessment of their resources, and an assessment of their competitive position and possibilities. Most Important External Factors in the Remote Environment Factors that Cit Trends cannot control make up the remote environment. The remote environment of Cit Trends includes economic factors, social factors, political factors, and technological factors (Frenzy, 2012). Cit Trends Economic Factors Cit Trends most important economic factors are a fall in customer transactions and below normal total price of customer purchases. The main reason for these factors was a defying economy for their essential customers. The downfall in the economy has had a large impact on many businesses. Customers have not been spending the money they used to spend and some have stopped shopping altogether for name brand clothing settling for heaper brands to stretch their dollar because of a low economy (Form 10-K for Cit Trends Inc. 2012). Cit Trends Social Factors Changes in fashion trends are a major social factor for Cit Trends. The clothing industry universally and Cit Trends essential customers are specifically exposed to quickly changing fashion trends. Cit Trends will have to expect and identify any changes in fashion trends so they can make appropriate changes in the products they carry (Cit Trends Inc. Form 1 0-K, 2011). Cit Trends political Factors An increase in minimum wages is one of the main political factors that will have effects on Cit Trends. Cit Trends present employees and new hires will have to make at least the new federal minimum wage of $7. 25 per hour. This means any employees currently working at a rate of below $7. 5 per hour will have to be raised to a level of pay at or above this rate. The increase in minimum wages could have an opposing effect on Cit Trends financial situation and their results of operations (Cit Trends Inc. Form 1 0-K, 2011 Cit Trends Technological Factors Todays technology progresses at a fast rate. Cit Trends uses many information technology systems, such as IBM computer systems, software programs to support many areas of its business, point-of-sale software to operate its cash registers, hand-held scanners to mark sown and reticent merchandise, and software from Workday to process payroll and simplify unman capital management processes. They have to stay up-to-date on any upgrades and updates needed to their software to perform satisfactory business operations (Cit Trends Inc. Form 1 0-K, 2011). Cit Trends P. E. S. T Analysis Valetudinarianisms Laws, Current Federal Minimum Wage Law, proposed New Federal Minimum Wage Law, Antitrust Laws, Fair Trade Decisions, Tax Programs I Economist current recession of the home economy in the United States, Current recession of the Global economy I Socializing trends, stores located in inner city locations in tough areas whose annual should income ranges from targeting specifically the urban African-American shopper I Technological developments in software, Upgrades and updates in current software currently being used by Cit Trends, Replacement solutions for any out-of-date information technology currently in use Most Important External Factors in Industry Environment The retail clothing industry in the united States has about 100,000 stores nationwide and collects a shared SSL 50 billion in proceeds annually. The industry is very intense the 50 biggest companies bring in 65% of the entire industry incomes. Most of the companies are specialized and have found a particular market of customers to please. The size of companies making up the industry ranges from small independently owned shops to large department stores (Fulcrum Inquiry, 2010). Most Important External Factors in Operating Environment The operating environment includes customers, creditors, investors, employees, the marketing environment, and how Cit Trends uses and obtains resources (Frenzy, 2012). The external operating environment consists of Cit Trends competitive position, their customer profile, their reputation mongo suppliers, their reputation among creditors, and accessible labor market. Cit Trends Customer Profile Cit Trends caters to urban African-American consumers. They provide clothing and accessories for men, women, and children (Haynes Publishing Group, 201 1). They sell hip-hop jeans and over-sized t-shirts to younger consumers as well (Reference for Business Company History Index, 2012). Cit Trends Reputation among Suppliers Cit Trends upholds sound sourcing relationships with a large group of suppliers. They have bought merchandise from around 1,000 vendors in a 12 onto period. They buy merchandise through planned programs with vendors at reduced prices and resourcefully through close-outs. To promote vendor relationships, they pay vendors on time and seldom ask for typical retail reductions like promotional and markdown allowances (Form 10-K for Cit Trends, 2012). Cit Trends Reputation among Creditors Cit Trends maintains a good reputation with its creditors. On October 27, 201 1 they entered a $50 million dollar line of credit with Bank of America that replaced a prior $20 million dollar line of credit. With the new line of credit Cit Trends has the capability to increase the line of credit to $75 million. Cit Trends has not borrowed any money with either the new or old line of credit (Cit Trends Inc. ? Form 1 0-Q, 2012). Accessible Labor Market Cit Trends employs 5,300 employees as of 2012. They have 108 executives at their Savannah, Georgia location alone (Hooker, 2012). Cit Trends rates below average in their number of employees among other like compan ies. The whole workforce of the apparel stores industry is estimated to have about 304,450 employees. Cit Trends employs 85. 65% fewer employees than the services sector, 81. 4% fewer that the apparel stores industry, and 78. 8% fewer than the total number of employees for all stocks. Cit Trends uses the Internet as a means of filing a job application for employment with them (MicroVAXs, 2012). Number Of Employees among Related Companies (MicroVAXs, 2012) Cit Trends Most Important Strengths Cit Trends effectively TA regrets the African-American culture of shoppers. Nearly 70% of their customer base is African-American. This is achieved by being able to locate stores in the neighborhoods where this particular demographic is located. They also carry mainly urban apparel, brands, and a mall home dcord section that focuses on the black culture (Business Library, 2006). Cit Trends can sell name brands of clothing and accessories at a low price. They sell name brands, such as Apple Bottoms, FEB., Rockaway, Path Farm, Baby Path, Sean Jean, and Decides. Cit Trends sells these name brands at 20 to 60% below the prices of department stores (Business Library, 2006). This merchandising puts them in a position for continued growth and profits. Cit Trends is a family oriented store. They carry apparel and accessories for the entire family, men, women, and children. Some of their competition like Dots and Rainbow also target African-American shoppers but they carry mainly womens apparel (Business Library, 2006). Cit Trends has an effective buying team. They believe looks are more important than the brand. The look has to be right first and the brand second. The buying team is trend-driven and can focus on key looks in season instead of concentrating on specific name brands. They purchase apparel worldwide at exceptional prices to pass the value on to the customers (Business Library, 2006). Cit Trends Most Important Weaknesses Cit Trends has a large turnover in employees. In 2005 and 2006 they had a 0% turnover rate in store managers alone. They also have a considerable turnover rate in sales associates. Many of the employees they hire as sales associates lack experience and must be properly trained (Cit Trends Inc. Form 10-K, 2011). Store shrinkage is another weakness. 50-70% of Cit Trends shrinkage was coming from employee theft, including merchandise being taken out the back door, and cashiers performing falsified voids. Another substantial portion of loss was coming from shoplifting and burglary (Verify, 2012). Assessment of Cit Trends Resources Cit Trends has many valuable resources. They take pride in their inventory that includes name brand and private label apparel for the entire family, accessories to accent the apparel, and home dcord. They have many valuable employees in their stores and distribution centers including executives, managers, assistant managers, and sales associates. They also have a cash flow from operations, short-term trade credit, borrowing under their revolving lines of credit, long-term debt, capital leases, and cash proceeds from their initial public offering. They offer a layaway program in which customers pay 20 percent Of their purchase and a $2 fee down and they aka payments every two weeks with 60 days to pay the layaway out (Cit Trends Inc. Form 10-K, 201 1). Cit Trends Competitive Position and Possibilities Cit Trends depends on suppliers having leftover inventory and they resourcefully purchase the inventory. They have good access to inventory. Some of their competitors have been going out of business. Their stores are in strip malls. Overall Cit Trends seems to have a fairly good competitive position (Haynes Publishing Group, 2011). Some of Cit Trends competitors include TAX Companies, Ross Stores, Coat, Burlington Coat Factory, Its Fashion, Rainbow, Dots, Fashion Cents, Simply Fashions, Wall-Mart, Roses, Target and Smart. The methods of competition used are fashion, assortment, pricing, and presentation of the merchandise. They also believe they offer a more inviting Store format than the off-price retailers, including using carpeted floors and remarkably displayed brands (Cit Trends Inc. Form 10-K, 201 1). Cit Trends faces many possibilities in competition. Many of their competitors are larger than them and have significantly better resources than them. As a result, the competitor may adjust better to changing market notations, take advantage of new opportunities and apply better pricing demands on suppliers than they can. Many of their competitors have better name recollection among customers than they do and purchase considerably more merchandise from vendors. These competitors may buy branded merchandise that Cit Trends cannot purchase because of their name recollection and relationships with their suppliers, or they may buy branded merchandise with better pricing reductions than Cit Trends. Their local and regional competitors have widespread knowledge of the customer base and may acquire more loyalty from customers than Cit Trends. If the customer base they serve is satisfied with the selection, quality, and price of their competitors products, customers might decide not to shop at Cit Trends. Furthermore, if their current competitors or other retailers choose to concentrate more on Cit Trends core customers, mainly African-American customers, they may have more difficulty in competing effectively, their business and results of their operations could be badly affected, and the market price of their common stock could suffer (Cit Trends Inc. Form 10-K, 201 1). Conclusion Performing an external and internal analysis of Cit Trends helps to identify heir strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This process, better known as a SOOT analysis is a very helpful tool in strategic planning. The PEST analysis is used in assessing the external environment of Cit Trends.

10 Fascinating, Little-Known Moth Facts

10 Fascinating, Little-Known Moth Facts Moths arent just the dull brown cousins of our beloved butterflies. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Before you dismiss them as boring, check out these 10 fascinating facts about moths.   1. Moths Outnumber Butterflies by a 9 to 1 Ratio Butterflies and moths belong to the same order,  Lepidoptera.  Over 90% of known Leps (as entomologists often call them) are moths, not butterflies. Scientists have already discovered and described well over 135,000 different species of moths. Moth experts estimate there are at least 100,000 more moths still undiscovered, and some think moths actually number half a million species. So why do a few butterflies get all the attention? 2. Most Moths Are Nocturnal, but Many Fly During the Day We tend to think of moths as creatures of the night, but this isnt always the case. Some moths are quite active during daylight hours. Theyre often mistaken for butterflies, bees, or even hummingbirds. The clearwing moths, some of which mimic wasps or bees, visit flowers for nectar during the day. Other diurnal moths include some tiger moths, lichen moths, wasp moths, and owlet moths.   3. Moths Come in All Sizes Some moths are so small theyre referred to as micromoths. Generally, moth families in which the member species measure just a centimeter or two are considered micromoths. But a still undescribed species collected in Africa is likely the smallest moth of all, with a wingspan of just 2 mm. At the other end of the moth spectrum is the white witch moth (Thysania aggrippina), a neotropical species with a wingspan that reaches up to 28 cm, or the size of a dinner plate. 4. Male Moths Have a Remarkable  Sense of Smell Keep in mind that moths dont have noses, of course. An insects sense of smell is essentially its ability to detect chemical cues in the environment, called chemoreception. Moths smell these cues with highly sensitive receptors on their antennae. And male moths are the champions of chemoreception, thanks to feathery antennae with lots of surface area to grab those molecules from the air and give them a sniff. Female moths use sex attractant pheromones to invite potential mates to mingle. Silk moth males seem to have the strongest sense of smell of all and can follow a whiff of female pheromones for miles. A male promethea moth holds the record for tracking a scent through the air. He flew an astounding 23 miles in the hope of mating with the girl of his dreams and was likely disappointed when he realized hed been tricked by a scientist with a pheromone trap. 5. Some Moths Are Important Pollinators We dont often think of moths as pollinators, perhaps because we arent outside in the dark watching them work. While butterflies get all the credit, there are plenty of moths moving pollen from flower to flower, including geometer moths, owlet moths, and sphinx moths. Yucca plants require the help of yucca moths to cross-pollinate their flowers, and each yucca plant species has its own moth partner. The yucca moths have special tentacles with which they can scrape and gather pollen from yucca blossoms. Charles Darwin famously predicted that orchids with exceptionally long nectaries were pollinated by insects with equally long proboscises. Though ridiculed for his hypothesis at the time, he was later vindicated when scientists discovered the Madagascan sphinx moth, an orchid-pollinating species with a 30 cm proboscis. 6. Some Moths Do Not Have Mouths Some moths dont waste time once they reach adulthood. They emerge from their cocoons ready to mate, and content to die soon afterward. Since they wont be around for very long, they can get by on the energy they stored as caterpillars. If you dont plan on eating, theres really no point in developing a fully-functioning mouth. Probably the best-known example of a mouthless moth is the luna moth, a stunning species that lives just a few days as an adult. 7. Not All Moths Eat, but They Are Often Eaten Moths and their caterpillars make up a lot of biomass in the ecosystems where they live. And they arent just empty calories, either. Moths and caterpillars are rich in protein. All kinds of animals feed on moths and caterpillars: birds, bats, frogs, lizards, small mammals, and in some parts of the word, even people! 8. Moths Use All Kinds of Tricks to Avoid Being Eaten When everything in your world is intent on eating you, youve got to get a little creative to stay alive. Moths employ all kinds of interesting tricks to avoid predation. Some are masterful mimics, such as caterpillars that look like twigs and adult moths that blend in with tree bark. Others use startle markings, like the underwing moths that flash brightly colored hindwings to distract pursuing predators. Tiger moths produce ultrasonic clicking sounds that confuse sonar-guided bats. 9. Some Moths Migrate Everyone loves migrating butterflies, like the famous long-distance flights of the North American monarchs. But nobody gives props to the many moths that also migrate, perhaps because they tend to fly at night. Moths tend to migrate for practical reasons, like to find a better food supply, or to avoid uncomfortably hot and dry weather. Black cutworm moths spend their winters on the Gulf Coast but migrate north in the spring (like some senior citizens). Olympic trivia buffs may remember the hordes of migrating Bogong moths that pestered athletes during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. 10. Moths Are Attracted to Light Bulbs, Bananas, and Beer If the previous 9 facts convinced you that moths are pretty cool insects, you might be interested in attracting moths so you can see them for yourself. Moth enthusiasts use a few tricks to lure moths closer. First, many moths will come to lights at night, so you can start by observing the moths that visit your porch light. To see a greater diversity of the moths in your area, try using a black light and a collecting sheet, or even a mercury vapor light. Some moths might not come to lights but cant resist a mixture of fermenting sweets. You can mix up a special moth-attracting recipe using ripe bananas, molasses, and stale beer. Paint the mixture on a few tree trunks and see who comes for a taste. Sources: Australias Bogong moth invasion turns even yawning into a potential health hazard, The Independent. November 4, 2013.Capinera, John L. Encyclopedia of Entomology, 2nd edition.Corcoran, A.J., Barber, J. R., and Conner, W. E. Tiger moth jams bat sonar. Science. July 17, 2009.Cranshaw, Whitney and Redak, Richard. Bugs Rule! An Introduction to the World of Insects.Kritsky, Gene. Darwins Madagascan hawk moth prediction. American Entomologist, Volume 37, 1991.Largest Lepidopteran Wing Span, University of Florida Book of Insect Records, April 17, 1998.  Moisset, Beatriz. Yucca Moths (Tegeticula sp.). US Forest Service website.Smallest Moth in the World?, UC David Department of Entomology and Nematology website, June 29, 2012.Status of Pollinators in North America, by Committee on the Status of Pollinators in North America, 2007.Waldbauer, Gilbert. The Handy Bug Answer Book.

Analysis of China Airlines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Analysis of China Airlines - Essay Example The extent of political multiplicity is not necessarily relevant for understanding the global airline industry, nor is the technological environment as this is relatively homogenous for airlines utilising similar support IT such as e-commerce, on-board entertainment, social media, and software for enterprise resource planning. 1.1 Social Factors The social factors associated with the different target customer segments in the regions serviced by the global airline industry and its competitors is critical to understanding how the business maintains competitive advantages. Each regional culture maintains differing societal views that impact dimensions of service quality, marketing and promotion, and customer relationship management. Customers in Japan maintain distinctly unique cultural values from other Asian nations, scoring high in areas of masculinity as identified by Geert Hofstede. Japanese customers with high masculinity characteristics have significantly high expectations for to p quality service and in product presentation (Hofstede Center 2012). Service failures or product quality occurring on-board will be the most predictable elements of service development with this important revenue-generating market segment. Japanese customers are also recognised as being one of the most risk averse cultures on the planet (Hofstede Center 2012), therefore once a business has managed to establish brand loyalty there is little risk of brand defection (Boone and Kurtz 2007). Customers in China, however, are very hedonistic which was established on the foundation of Confucian-era values (Farh and Cheng 2000). Hedonism involves characteristics of self-indulgence and maximisation of self-utility (Lemos 2004; Overskeid 2002), borne of a collectivist culture where saving face is one of the most top valued social characteristics to achieve group affiliation (Hofstede et al. 2010). This highly collectivist culture demands more attention to achieving excellence in service which translates into a hedonistic measure of self-expansion. Influence from Chinese consumers exert new service quality pressures on labour systems charged with service delivery, thus distinguishing Chinese consumers from that of Japanese high-resource buyers. Social factors continue to impose risks on companies operating in this industry sector, forcing transparency in operations and demanding new emphasis on competency in service delivery. There are global consequences in international markets that have reached market maturity and where airline companies must utilise culturally-sensitive promotions and advertising in order to gain market attention that stresses places more emphasis on culturally-based market research to gain market prominence. 1.2 Economic Factors The fiscal situation in China is relevant for analysis since many airlines in this industry service customers from or to this destination. In 2012, China’s fiscal leadership injected 57.92 billion USD into a strugglin g economy to stabilise interest rates and influence new corporate borrowing (Safe Trading 2013). This has opened new avenues for foreign direct investment and has served to create more favourable exchange rates between Taiwanese currency values and

Social Media and Social Bonds Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Social Media and Social Bonds - Essay Example Shawn Ghuman in his essay â€Å"Is Technology Destroying Social Bonds?† notes how social media has led to the reduction of inter-person interaction in a real way. The argument is against the decline of what the author perceives as real relationships and conversations. For instance, he says, While chatting with friends, reading statuses, and skimming tweets, I wonder what happened to traditional communication in the current tech-savvy era. Our lives seemingly revolve around receiving digital messages, as we spend countless hours staring at screens and communicating with people online even though they are geographically close (110). While the author does have a point in the case of certain sections of people who may have had problems communicating even before the advent of social media, in the case of others, their extroversion may have merely transposed itself onto a virtual space. In many instances, plans for real interactions may even materialize on social media before they h appen in a real space. Thus, social media, while it is a virtual reality, may even in its nascent stages, facilitate rather than debilitate real interactions. The author also speaks of the relevance of social media in improving social bonds, albeit in a few lines. ... This was orchestrated through messages and short texts in order to escape the mechanism of surveillance. Through the course of the essay, the author reiterates at numerous points that contrary to the popular notion that social networking and modern technology have widened the scope of human communication, there is ample reason to believe the reverse. He uses persuasive reasoning by posing certain rhetorical questions to the readers urging them to reassess the role of technology in their lives. The most significant of these is the one where the reader is asked to think of instances where he/she may have connected with a person on Facebook or other similar social networking websites but upon meeting the individual in per son may be discovered that they are in fact incompatible. This stems from the larger point of social media allowing individuals to create virtual personalities for themselves which may not be reflective of who they truly are. Consequently, their social lives become limited largely confined to the virtual world as factors such as social awkwardness and introversion which may otherwise inhibit a person’s socialization are absent here. The writer also problematizes the idea that technology has simplified our lives. The argument here is that this seeming pursuit for simplicity and comfort may have actually resulted in oversimplification and sloth. This is seen in the lines â€Å"We can make ourselves sound intelligent, meaningful, or witty. Cellphones have become the faces of their users, and messages have become direct reflections of our personalities.†Ã‚