Two Heads Are Better Than One Essays

Two Heads Are Better Than One Essays Two Heads Are Better Than One Essay Two Heads Are Better Than One Essay Two Heads Are Better Than One Two heads are better than one. Is working in a group better than working independently? I think so because you can get more ideas, do the work in a quicker time period and accomplish bigger goals. Firstly, if you work in a group there are more people with you which means there is a variety of thinkers. A variety of thinkers means a mixture of ideas and more success. For example, say you and your staff members have created a product and you want to advertise it in many ways. If you were just working on it alone, you probably wouldn’t get as many results as well as the same quality of work as you would in a group. Secondly, when you do group work instead of individual work, you tend to do the work much faster because the work is divided. The more and more people there are, the lesser time it takes to finish the same work. Let’s take a simple example, a project on aeroplanes. You have to answer about 6 questions on aeroplanes and make a poster board. If you are working in a group, you can divide all the work to each member of the group (answering questions, designing the board, editing, etc. and the process will go much quicker than you having to do all of it yourself. So group work is done much quicker than individual work. Lastly, when you work in a group you can accomplish bigger goals because there are more people. For example, say you have a goal to help the hungry people in the community. If you try to accomplish this goal by yourself, it would be very difficult to do. But when you make an organization, everybody can help and you will meet the needs of your goal. To sum up, it is better to work in a group than to work individually. Thus, two heads are better than one.

Imagination Jockey †An Interview with Indie Author Ben Galley

Imagination Jockey - An Interview with Indie Author Ben Galley Imagination Jockey - An Interview with Indie Author Ben Galley He’s not just the co-founder of the world’s first ebook store exclusively for indie authors and small presses - Ben Galley is also the author of the ‘Emaneska’ dark fantasy series, the first part of which was recently adapted into a graphic novel featuring art from Michael Shipley.We spoke to Ben about his indie author alter-ego, and what it’s like juggling the creative side of being an author with the business of self-publishing.How did you get started as a writer?I’ve always had a passion for writing. I strayed away from writing through college and secondary school, but stumbled back into it, strangely enough, through being a musician. When music didn’t take off for me and I was becoming disillusioned with the endless bar jobs I was working in, I poured all the knowledge I had picked up about how to be a self-sufficient musician into publishing. I rediscovered my love for writing, and it went hand-in-hand with what I’d learned about being an independent artist. It was perfect timing!Did you start off thinking of going the traditionally published route? How did that background knowledge about being an independent musician shape how you were thinking about writing and publishing?I studied music at the Contemporary Academy of Music in Guildford. They’re a very eyes-wide-open institution, and they taught me to be very independent and how to run businesses in a digital world. Those skills, amazingly, translated very well into the book world, which at the time was just entering its digital revolution.After finishing the manuscript for The Written, I began to research publishing options, and I discovered the emerging concept of self-publishing. I suddenly realised I could do it myself, and bend my ACM skills into this new industry. Not only that, but by going indie and DIY I could shave 18 months off my release schedule, keep 70% of my royalties, and get to control my career. I haven’t looked back since!What’s the most important thing to creating a successful indie book?It’s about being professional and aiming for the highest quality you can. I recognised early on that these were key, if not the keys to success – your books need to look as good as, if not better than, a traditionally published book. So, if you want a good shot at making a living and standing out from the crowd, use professionals: cover designers, editors, formatters, they are very important, and will help make sure your book is as professional as can be.Have you been enabled to try new experiments because you’ve been an indie?Absolutely, and a great example of that is my Emaneska graphic novel, which will be released this December. I regularly have conversations with traditional-author friends where they’re saying â€Å"I wish I could do this, I wish I could do that.† Sadly, these authors are tied to contracts and the publisher’s whim. If an idea is not in the publisher’s financial game plan, or if it’s not a commercial trend, is generally not willing to take a punt. This means that these authors are limited in what they can do. Indies aren’t shackled by that.The Written graphic novel is something I probably would not have been able to do with a traditional publisher. I’m talking very generally, but as an indie I can make a decision and get started all in the same hour, no questions asked and no permission needed. That’s why I was able to set up a Kickstarter project, raise over  £5,500, hire an artist, and just get it done. It’s been a lot of work, but it’s testament to how free and agile indies are.How do you work creatively? Do you have any tips on how to disrupt writer’s block?I worry this is going to sound a bit pompous, but I don’t believe in writer’s block. I think it’s psychosomatic. Writer’s block normally happens when you don’t not know what you’re writing (i.e. you haven’t got a plan), why you’re writing, or you’re simply in the wrong frame of mind or environment. Writer’s block usually comes about for one or more of these reasons. I believe in setting time aside, having a dedicated space, and being clear about my goals and what I have to do. To date, that has kept the block at bay, and I can usually write every day without fail. Again practise helps you realise what works for you. Sometimes I need a little music to put me in a mood, that can really help. If I’ve done everything right it flows, and it normally doesn’t stop flowing until I can’t see because my eyes are so tired. If the block ever strikes, step back, re-analyse and refocus.How about when you’re generating ideas?Some of my best ideas come while I’m absorbing other media. I’m constantly inspired by movies, TV, music, and of course, books. Initial concepts have always come ve ry sporadically but naturally to me, literally springing out of thin air. Once I have a concept, I then sit down to formulate a book or story around that idea. Then it’s about locking the door, closing the window, and focussing. I use music a lot for that, something without lyrics, something very musical - I close my eyes and let the ideas and characters run away with themselves. I see where they end up, and if I like it I’ll write it down, pause the music, make some notes, and then go back. What I never do is dismiss an idea, no matter how trivial. I note everything down. You never know when you’ll need it.That sounds very pleasantly intuitive.Exactly. You’re not forcing yourself. You’re not sitting there going â€Å"I want this to happen, how can I make this happen?† Sometimes the ideas that come organically are the ideas that are best for the book and for the readers.What’s your editing process like?First of all I go through the ma nuscript once or twice myself. I work back through the book, reaffirming the structure and big concepts first, then I go through it again to focus on rewriting and correcting mistakes, and improving it overall. If I need to, I’ll go through it a third time before sending it through to my professional editor, Kevin. The right editor can do a huge amount for you and your book – an editor who can identify with your style, your genre, or you – or ideally all three! There’re a lot of editors out there, so it’s a matter of shopping around and finding the right one for you.Finally, what sort of stuff do you like to read?Lots and lots of fantasy. I just love it, and that’s why I write it. I’m reading ‘Queen of Tearling’ at the moment. I read a lot of mythology as well, a lot of Nordic mythology, Icelandic poetry, Greek and Roman classics, and recently near-Eastern mythology. That comes hand-in-hand with research, and I’m genuinely interested in it.Thanks for your time Ben!

How Roche Diagnostics Develops Global Managers Research Paper

How Roche Diagnostics Develops Global Managers - Research Paper Example Roche develops global managers through global rotation program called Perspectives program. Employees with MBAs or PhD degree can participate in this international career program that consists of four assignments each lasting six months. Each assignment is taken in a different country, or laboratory and 95 percent of all participants have completed the program successfully. How Roche diagnostics develops global managers Who is responsible for developing global leaders The organization has the responsibility of developing global leaders. The management and the human resource department should initiate strategies and career development programs in order to develop global leaders (Smilansky, 2006). The global marketplace requires employees with multiple skills like communication capability and ability to understand the global business culture. Global organizations operate in multiple locations and usually provide goods and services that are suitable for the particular national market an d which consider the culture of the country (Smilansky, 2006). The parent country and host country should cooperate by allowing work permit for global managers in order to create a pool of talented global leaders. Global organizations require marketing strategies that consider flexibility due to the differences in market needs and culture of the people. Additionally, business schools have a role to play in highlighting the global economy and cultures of different locations in the world. Advanced business degrees should focus on real business experiences of multiple international business locations (Smilansky, 2006). Ramifications of not having global leaders In my profession field, there are various ramifications of not having global leaders in the marketing field. Global leaders influence the marketing and global brand management strategies selected by the organization due to cultural issues in different locations. There will be limited opportunities for professional growth and car eer advancement and organizations will experience high labor turnover and inability to attract and retain multi-skilled employees (Smilansky, 2006). Without global leaders, the language selected in advertisements and promotional materials will not fit the culture of the location since some countries like Japanese prefer a high-context language and direct messages, unlike low-context cultures (Smilansky, 2006). Without global leaders, an organization will not understand the values and attitudes of consumers in a particular location. The organization will also fail in new product design and packaging since aesthetics such as taste, smell and size influence the attitudes of the consumers towards a product depending on their culture (McCall & Hollenbeck, 2002). Such organizations will lose market share and ultimately decline the productivity of the product in particular locations. Without the global leaders, the organization will not understand the unique needs and preferences of consum ers and the needs of the workforce thus leading to decline in market share (McCall & Hollenbeck, 2002). US public policy changes that can encourage companies to develop global leaders Roche’s Perspectives program invests many resources in the development of global leaders, but there are public policy changes which can be made in the U.S to encourage compani

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

Queastion - Essay Example Muhammad captured the Mecca city later in 630 after the Mecca’s population surrendered. Mecca community accepted Islamic religion and recognized Muhammad as the supreme leader. However, quite a number of tribes were against the Muhammad’s teachings and religion. Muhammad later died leaving no message about the leadership and future of Islamic religion. A new leader was immediately declared by the top advisers of Muhammad, and Abu Bakr was chosen as the leader, However, Unlike Muhammad whose leadership style was well known, Abu Bakr was referred as the successor of Muhammad. Abu Bakr took over most parts of Arabia in his two year leadership. Tribes that were against Islamic authority faced Abu Bakr army under the leadership of Khalid ibn alwalid. The takeover of Arabia by Muslim community led to the establishment Caliph, the central control that formed strong alliance between Arabs and the Muslim community. This was one of the merits of growth and power of Islamic religion because coalition between Muslim communities led to formation of strong army. Establishment of a strong army after formation of Caliph led to the capture of other territories such as Byzantine Empire. Other cities were also captured in Iraq after the battle between Muslim troops and the Persians. New leadership of Muslim community continued the spread of Islamic religion. After the death of Abu Bakr, Umar led on capturing other territories such as Iran and some parts of Asia, with thcConquest being also expanded to northern parts of Africa and to Europe. Muhammad being anti-Christ offered death threats to those who refused to convert to Islam. Additionally, his teachings motivated soldiers in war, and were told that those who died fighting for him would be speared during the Day of Judgment in heaven. Syrians and Egyptian Christians accepted Islamic religion easily because they could not bear hardships they were facing from Christianity religions such as

Age of Extremes Essay Example for Free

Age of Extremes Essay The twentieth century was rich in events and outstanding personalities. In his book Age of Extremes, Eric Hobsbawm provides an extensive review of what happened during the Twentieth Century and the impact of those events on human development. According to Hobsbawm, the Twentieth Century was both the Age of Catastrophe and the time of the extraordinary economic growth – a complex sandwich of events and developments that changed the human society â€Å"more profoundly than any other period of comparable brevity† (Hobsbawm, 1995). In the first two chapters of Age of Extremes, Eric Hobsbawm (1995) tries to evaluate the social and historic legacy of the Twentieth Century and creates a brief picture of the events and accomplishments that took place between 1914 and 1991. The author is confident that human society cannot distance itself from the events of the past, because everyone on the globe, irrespective of their life history and personal background, went through more or less similar central experiences that affected them all (Hobsbawm, 1995). Hobsbawm (1995) traces the evolution of the Twentieth Century from the First World War, which marked â€Å"the breakdown of the western civilization of the nineteenth century† (p. 6). The western civilization was characterized by capitalist economy, liberal constitutional structure, bourgeois image of the hegemonic class, and the glory of scientific, educational, technological, knowledge, and moral advance (Hobsbawm, 1995). The decades following the beginning of the First World War were the Age of Catastrophe: until the end of WWII, the society stumbled from one calamity to another and lived at the edge of survival (Hobsbawm, 1995). The failure of the major colonial empires and the economic crisis of unprecedented depth added their share of complexity to the state of world affairs (Hobsbawm, 1995). Hobsbawm (1995) believes that the victory of the Soviet Union over Hitler was one of the most important events of the Twentieth Century. Without it, the whole Western world could have turned into set of variations on fascist themes (Hobsbawm, 1995). The rise of the socialist movements was the direct result of the weaknesses in the nineteenth-century bourgeois society (Hobsbawm, 1995). How and why the world threw itself into the Golden Age of capitalism between 1947 and 1973 remains one of basic historical puzzles; but the Golden Age could not be endless and the global crisis that followed affected all, irrespective of their political, social, and economic configurations (Hobsbawm, 1995). The economic crisis gradually extended to cover political issues – the collapse of the Soviet Union produced an enormous zone of political uncertainty and destroyed the stable system of international relations (Hobsbawm, 1995). The economic and political uncertainties were followed by the moral and social crisis – the crisis of beliefs, which humans had used over the course of the Twentieth Century to win their battle over the nineteenth century’s ideology (Hobsbawm, 1995). The century that had begun with unbelievable optimism and faith in the future ended with a bang and a whimper, leaving the society in the midst of the moral, social, economic, and mental collapse (Hobsbawm, 1995). In Hobsbawm’s (1995) view, the Twentieth Century was the time of unprecedented achievements and dramatic failures. The cyclical nature of evolution resulted in continuous instability and profound economic, social, and political shifts. For many countries, the Twentieth Century became the time of remarkable changes and the beginning of the new era of uncertainty and chaos. Whether countries succeed in resolving the existing controversies depends on how well they can learn the lessons of the past and use wisely the historical, political, and moral legacy of the stormy Twentieth Century. Conclusion The Twentieth Century was the time of unprecedented achievements and failures. The capitalization of the word combination â€Å"Twentieth Century† by Hobsbawm (1995) is not accidental. The author feels that the Twentieth Century reflected a unique paradox: the triumph of the material values and their absolute rejection at the end of the era. The century that had begun with unbelievable optimism and faith in the future ended with the deep crisis of the moral and mental ideologies, leaving humanity in the midst of the social, economic, cultural, and moral collapse. Whether countries succeed in resolving the existing controversies depends on how well people can learn from the past and use wisely the historical, political, and moral legacy of the stormy Twentieth Century.

The Most Dangerous Game Essay -- essays research papers

The Most Dangerous Game Have you ever had feelings about something that later changed? In "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Conel, I will show how one character changes his opinion about something after he has experienced it himself. Almost all of us have said "Oh that's easy" or "I could do that any day!" and then find out that the task is harder then it looked. In a summary, "The Most Dangerous Game" is a story about a man named Rainsford whom gets stranded on an island with a crazed general. This general is named General Zaroff. Rainsford was an excellent hunter who wrote many books about hunting. General Zaroff was a fan of Rainsford's books, so he immediately knew who Rainsford was when he found him. General Zaroff let Rainsford in and trea...

Canon: Modifying a Successful Strategy Essay

Canon is a Japan-based manufacturer, with worldwide sales exceeding US$45 billion, and profits of almost US$3 billion. Canon’s well-known product lines include business machines, medical equipment, semiconductors, cameras, video equipment, and broadcast equipment. Business products account for 75 per cent of Canon’s total annual sales, cameras represent 18 per cent of sales, and optical equipment and other products comprise 7 per cent of sales. In most of its markets throughout the world, Canon’s major competitors are other Japan-based manufacturers, such as Sharp (which has a strong line of inexpensive photocopiers and other products aimed at the same small-business market that Canon often pursues, Minolta ( Japan’s largest camera manufacturer and Nikon (known for its technologically advanced products). It also competes against such U.S. firms as Xerox, Kodak and RCA. In 1985, Canon was the 125th largest firm in Fortune’s ranking of industrial corp orations outside the United Stats; today it is in the top 100, Because it is highly committed toward maximizing its long-term performance (as are most Japanese companies), Canon re-evaluated its overall Marketing approach and strategy – so that it may prepare properly for the future. In particular, Canon addressed these two areas: its need to be more market-oriented; and the need to maintain its strong level of foreign sales, particularly in North America and Europe. Over the years, Canon viewed itself as a technology-driven company. According to its corporate communications manager, â€Å"we aim to develop our own unique technologies, which can then form the basis of our products.† As a result, Canons new – product development has been considered a function of Research & Development, not Marketing. But then, the firm realized that this approach must be modified: Canon must change from a product-oriented company to a market-oriented one. Until now we have been more concerned with production and sales than Marketing. We will be focusing more closely on the needs of different consumer groups in each country and less concerned with the traditional production-oriented way of thinking. As part of the need to be more market-driven, Canon restructured from its present three product-based divisions (business machines, cameras, and optical equipment) to a more market-driven structure. In giving Marketing a greater role, Canon is also keeping this in mind: â€Å"As Marketing is made stronger, there is the risk it will weaken the motivation of the engineers who both pilot the new technologies and develop the new products.† With regard to its international efforts, Canon relies on overseas markets for 70 per cent of its total annual sales; this is a much higher percentage than for its competitors. For example, North America and Europe are Canons largest markets; each of these markets comprises 30 per cent of Canon’s sales. Annually, the company spends millions on media advertising, point-of-sale displays, and other promotion materials in North America and Europe. To be more responsive to foreign-market needs, Canon introduced a global Marketing system in recently. This system allows Canon to have similar products and Marketing approaches in various overseas markets while it better tailors business plans to the specialized needs of major market areas. For instance, Canon could develop a computer system with standardized hardware for all market areas, but with software that is tailored to each specialized market. To reduce the impact or trade barriers (such as trade-protection laws restricting the sales of foreign products in domestic markets) and the high value of the Japanese yen relative to other currencies (thereby making Japanese products more expensive in other markets), Canon has begun opening more Research & Development and production facilities abroad. The objective of such a strategy â€Å"is to make Canon a company with no national identity and free from trade friction, keeping production facilities close to the place of consumption.† 1aDescribe the potential areas of conflict between the research-and-development department and the Marketing department at Canon. 1b How may potential conflicts be minimized? 2a Evaluate pros and cons of Canon’s proposal to switch from product-based to market-based business units. 2bWhat are Canon’s new business unit names? Briefly describe the target segment for each business unit. 3.What are the advantages and limitations of using the Boston Consulting Group for business analysis? How can Canon use the BCG matrix in planning its Marketing strategy? 4aCritically assess Canon’s recent international Marketing decisions. 4bIn light of the restructuring, devise a new vision statement for Canon. (Hint: â€Å"A vision is a guiding image of success formed in terms of a contribution to society. If a strategic plan is the â€Å"blueprint† for an organization’s work, then the vision is the â€Å"artist’s rendering† of the achievement of that plan. It is a description in words that conjures up a similar picture for each member of the group of the destination of the group’s work together.†) 5.Why might is be necessary to modify a successful strategy?

Wto Case

Tasks: 1) Review the articles and explain what is the core of the dispute * The core of the dispute are economic relations between countries and its companies, which stand in WTO. In these situations each country tries to defend its rights and win, so WTO’s primary task is to solve the arising problems guided with one of the main principles – non-discrimination. The rule requires that a WTO member must apply the same conditions on all trade with other WTO members, i. . a WTO member has to grant the most favorable conditions under which it allows trade in a certain product type to all other WTO members. So in the case of China – USA dispute WTO uses this principle and forces China to open the market for U. S. movies, music and books. China regulated US movies and music so far in order to protect their domestic entertainment market. But WTO ruled that China has to open to foreign entertainment materials according to globalization. ) Find and present at least three another disputes which are at the agenda of the Dispute Settlement Body of WTO. * DISPUTE DS450: China — Certain Measures Affecting the Automobile and Automobile-Parts Industries * The United States requested consultations with China concerning certain measures providing subsidies in the form of grants, loans, forgone government revenue, the provision of goods and services, and other incentives contingent upon export performance to automobile and automobile-parts enterprises in China. DISPUTE DS455: Indonesia — Importation of horticultural products, animals and animal products * The United States requested consultations with Indonesia concerning certain measures it imposes on the importation of horticultural products, animals and animal products. * DISPUTE DS456: India — Certain Measures Relating to Solar Cells and Solar Modules * The United States requested consultations with India concerning certain measures of India relating to domestic content requirements u nder the Jawaharial Nehru National Solar Mission (â€Å"NSM†) for solar cells and solar modules. ) Explain the term â€Å"dumping prices† * Dumping price is name for the practice of selling a product in a foreign country for less than the price in the domestic country, or the cost of making the product. Such a low prices may constitute a competition problem; e. g. when a company, which is dominating in a market, â€Å"dumps† their price, and the price drops so far that the company sells at a loss in order to eliminate a competitor. * Dumping in CZE: Radim Jancura commented a situation about Regio Jet. They have lost about 50mil.Kc in 2012 and he accused CD of dumping prices. Commentator was surprised to hear that from Jancura, who provided tickets for 1Kc from Prague to Liberec in the beginning. And Jancura explained: â€Å"It’s not dumping prices when it’s small beginning company, because it can’t destroy the competition. But when the comp any owns more than 30% of the market, than it’s dumping†¦ † 4) Which other commodities are object of protectionist measures? * As we come closer to a free trade, the protectionist measures become weaker. You can read also Thin Film Solar CellNevertheless, there are commodities, which can be a good example of protectionism. The EU imposes substantial tariff rates on many agricultural markets in order to increase the income of European farmers through increasing prices. The most significant examples are meat, dairy products, vegetables, cereals, sugar and agricultural products. There was a 20-years â€Å"banana war†, which consisted in great tariffs on banana imports from Latin America. Exporters had to pay â‚ ¬176 per ton of bananas.But then 10 Latin American countries signed a â€Å"historic† agreement to end the â€Å"banana wars† and banana prices are expected to fall by 11%. Argentina has increased imports duties on 100 products, including over a dozen agricultural goods. Tariffs on the import of milk powder increased to 9% after there was a threat of falling incomes to Argentinian farmers. Apart from commodities mentioned above, we think it can be also all types of commodities which are somehow important for the domestic economy (eg. because of domestic jobs, certain key industries, etc. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. WTO | dispute settlement – the disputes – DS450. World Trade Organization [online].  © 2013 [cit. 2013-03-05]. Dostupne z: http://www. wto. org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds450_e. htm [ 2 ]. WTO | dispute settlement – the disputes – DS455. World Trade Organization [online].  © 2013 [cit. 2013-03-05]. Dostupne z: http://www. wto. org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds455_e. htm [ 3 ]. WTO | dispute settlement – the disputes – DS456. World Trade Organization [online].  © 2013 [cit. 013-03-05]. Dostupne z: http://www. wto. org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds456_e. htm [ 4 ]. Dumping (pricing policy). In: Wikipedia: the free encyclopedia [online]. San Francisco (CA): Wik imedia Foundation, 2001- [cit. 2013-03-05]. Dostupne z: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Dumping_(pricing_policy) [ 5 ]. Examples and Types of Protectionism – Economics Blog. Economics Help – Simplifying Economics [online].  © 2013 [cit. 2013-03-05]. Dostupne z: http://www. economicshelp. org/blog/6911/alevel/examples-of-protectionism/

The First Reptiles and Their Evolution

The First Reptiles and Their Evolution We all know how the old story goes: Fish evolved into tetrapods, tetrapods evolved into amphibians, and amphibians evolved into reptiles. Its a gross oversimplification, of course- for example, fish, tetrapods, amphibians,  and reptiles all coexisted with each other for tens of millions of years- but itll do for our purposes. And for many fans of prehistoric life, the last link in this chain is the most important, since it was the dinosaurs, pterosaurs and marine reptiles of the Mesozoic Era that all descended from ancestral reptiles. Before we proceed any further, though, we need to define what the word reptile means. As far as biologists are concerned, the single defining characteristic of reptiles is that they lay hard-shelled eggs on dry land (as opposed to amphibians, which are constrained to lay their softer, more permeable eggs in water). Secondarily, compared to amphibians, reptiles have armored or scaly skin (which protects them from dehydration in the open air); larger, more muscular legs; slightly bigger brains; and lung-powered respiration (though no diaphragms, which were a later evolutionary development). Depending on how strictly you define the term, there are two prime candidates for the first-ever reptile. The first is the early Carboniferous (about 350 million years ago) Westlothiana, from Europe, which laid leathery eggs but otherwise had a distinctly amphibian anatomy, especially pertaining to its wrists and skull. The second (and more widely accepted) candidate is Hylonomus, which lived about 35 million years after Westlothiana and resembled the kind of small, skittery lizard you run across all the time in modern pet stores. This is all simple enough, as far as it goes, but once you get past Westlothiana and Hylonomus, the story of reptile evolution gets much more complicated. Three distinct reptilian families appeared during the course of the Carboniferous and Permian periods. Anapsids like Hylonomus had solid skulls, which provided little latitude for the attachment of robust jaw muscles; the skulls of synapsids sported single holes on either side and the skulls of diapsids had two holes on both the left and right sides. These lighter skulls, with their multiple attachment points, proved to be a good template for later evolutionary adaptations. Why is this important? Well, anapsid, synapsid and diapsid reptiles pursued very different paths toward the start of the Mesozoic Era. Today, the only living relatives of the anapsids are turtles and tortoises (though the exact nature of this relationship is hotly disputed by paleontologists). The synapsids spawned one extinct reptilian line, the pelycosaurs (the most famous example of which was Dimetrodon), and another line, the therapsids, evolved into the first mammals of the Triassic period. Finally, the diapsids evolved into the first archosaurs, which then split off into dinosaurs, pterosaurs, crocodiles, and (probably) marine reptiles like plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs. Lifestyles of the First Reptiles But were getting ahead of ourselves; much of this information is discussed in  Before the Dinosaurs - Pelycosaurs, Archosaurs, and Therapsids. What were interested in here is the obscure group of lizard-like reptiles that succeeded Hylonomus and preceded these better-known (and much larger) beasts. Its not that solid evidence is lacking; plenty of obscure reptiles have been discovered in Permian and Carboniferous fossil beds, especially in Europe. Its that most of these reptiles look so similar that it can be an eye-rolling exercise to attempt to distinguish between them. The exact classification of these animals is a matter of continuing debate, but heres our attempt to cut through the froth: Captorhinids, exemplified by Captorhinus and Labidosaurus, are the most basal, or primitive, reptile family yet identified, only recently evolved from amphibian ancestors like Diadectes and Seymouria. As far as paleontologists can tell, these anapsid reptiles went on to spawn both synapsid therapsids and diapsid archosaurs. Procolophonians were plant-eating anapsid reptiles that (as mentioned above) may or may not have been ancestral to modern turtles and tortoises; among the better-known genera are Owenetta and Procolophon. Pareiasaurids were much larger anapsid reptiles that counted among the biggest land animals of the Permian period, the two best-known genera being Pareiasaurus and Scutosaurus. Over the course of their reign, the pareiasaurs evolved elaborate armor, which still didnt prevent them from going extinct 250 million years ago! Millerettids were small, lizardy-looking reptiles that subsisted on insects, and also went extinct at the end of the Permian period. The two most well-known terrestrial milleretids were Eunotosaurus and Milleretta; an ocean-dwelling variant, Mesosaurus, was one of the first reptiles to de-evolve to a marine lifestyle. Finally, no discussion of ancient reptiles would be complete without a shout-out to the flying diapsids, a family of small Triassic reptiles that evolved butterfly-like wings and glided from tree to tree. True one-offs, and well out of the mainstream of diapsid evolution, the likes of Longisquama and Hypuronector must have been a sight to see as they fluttered high overhead. These reptiles were closely related to another obscure diapsid branch, the tiny monkey lizards like Megalancosaurus and Drepanosaurus that also lived high up in trees, but lacked the ability to fly.

Answers to Questions About Referring to Death

Answers to Questions About Referring to Death Answers to Questions About Referring to Death Answers to Questions About Referring to Death By Mark Nichol Here are three questions about how to treat references to people who have died, and my responses. 1. For how long after someone’s death is it necessary and/or appropriate to use â€Å"the late† to describe them? I know we don’t say â€Å"the late Ludwig van Beethoven,† but what about a board chairman who died twelve years ago? There’s no standard rule, but in objective, dispassionate content, late should generally be used only a few years after someone’s death. (A widow or widower referring to a deceased spouse, however, gets a lifetime pass.) 2. If I refer to someone’s having died in 2001, do I refer to the person in the same sentence as â€Å"the late John Smith,† for example, or is that redundant? Late is redundant to an explicit reference to a person’s death, and the objective reference is preferable to late. For example, â€Å"The project was funded by a bequest from the late John Smith, who died in 2001† is redundant, and â€Å"The project was funded by a bequest from John Smith, who died in 2001† is preferable to â€Å"The project was funded by a bequest from the late John Smith,† because the former sentence is more specific. 3. Is it objectionable in formal writing for the general public to refer explicitly to death i.e., are euphemisms like â€Å"passed away† truly preferable to died? On the contrary: Died is preferable to euphemisms like â€Å"passed away.† In informative text, use straightforward language; readers appreciate clear, specific wording and don’t need to be coddled with tiptoeing generalities. 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 General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:10 Rules for Writing Numbers and NumeralsGrammar Quiz #21: Restrictive and Nonrestrictive ClausesA "Diploma" is not a "Degree"

What does the customer expect from motor vehicle carrier Essay - 1

What does the customer expect from motor vehicle carrier - Essay Example Then the results will be used in reviewing and producing improvements of the service. As much as possible, the monitoring and the survey should be done on a regular basis to make sure that all the needs and expectations are answered on time. The most important aspect is to make customers feel that they are valuable and their interests are important to the carrier. Motor vehicle carrier is extremely important in every place for this is the most accessible in all modes of transportation. This is the most dominant means of transportation in the U.S. because it has potential access in transporting goods at any point of destination over short and longer places without restrictions (â€Å"Transportation,† n.d.). Currently, the U.S. has 765 motor vehicles that include line haul vehicles for longer destinations and city straight trucks for short distances. The carrier had accounted for an increase in carrier sales of about 5% and a revenue growth of 30% (O’Reilly, 2008). The most dominant among all these vehicles are the passenger vehicles that reported a 97 sales percentage in the U.S. market particularly in local areas. The industry had encountered several changes carried by deregulation and liberalization in the economy with few exceptions that motor carriers under the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA) will have th eir freedom to do business at their own perspectives as long as the rates are also rightful to the passengers (U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, 1988, p. 55). This freedom is governed by STTA and the carriers are still obliged to follow the terms and conditions specified as to the truck routes and vehicle specifications. Customer’s expectation is one of the important features of motor vehicle carriers because this is a prerequisite of being superior (Coyle, Novack, Gibson, & Bardi, 2010, p. 169). â€Å"The customer’s service expectation acts