Odysseus Characteristics - 1083 Words

The Odyssey, an epic, thousands of years old and yet still read today by many. It tells the story of Odysseus and his journey home to his wife, Penelope. Odysseus is one mythic Greek hero renowned for his brain as well as muscle. He is the paragon of a Greek hero who embodies balance, well-roundedness, and wholeness: a sound mind in a sound body, a speaker of words and a doer of deeds, strength and gentleness (moral courage and a good heart), bravery on the field of battle and appreciation for the beautiful. Odysseus demonstrates an exemplary ideal of how well-rounded and balanced everyone should seek to become. Odysseus possesses a sound mind in a sound body, meaning he is both intelligent and athletic. Many characters only possess one of†¦show more content†¦The two qualities balance one another out nicely, and if Odysseus doesn’t possess both characteristics, the suitors will defeat him. One who is a speaker of words and a doer of deeds is a leader. Odysseus preoves to be a good leader through out many trials and tribulations. Firstly, he decides to go to war with the Greeks even though he does not wish to leave Penelope, and son, Telemanchos, in Ithica. However, showing great selflessness, he puts aside his personal desires and offers himself to the protection of his country. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, â€Å"Homer portrayed Odysseus as a man of outstanding wisdom and shrewdness, eloquence, resourcefulness, courage, and endurance† (â€Å"Odysseus†). During the war with Troy, he suggests the stratagem of the Wooden Horse. This becomes the infamous means which ends the Trojan War. He also bravely protects his men from many setbacks on their voyage home such as the encounters with Polyphemus, Circe, the sirens, and Scylla and Charybdis. Odysseus is brawny, and works harder than most anyone. â€Å"You are a hard man, Odysseus. Your force is greater, your limbs never wear out. You must be made all of iron† (Homer 12.279-280). His strength and moral courage become quite clear during several predicaments he is involved in, including when he fights off the suitors, and escapes from Polyphemus, the Cyclops. Odysseus’ encounter with and escape from Polyphemus is hisShow MoreRelatedCharacteristics Of Odysseus1037 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is a hero? A hero is someone who is admired for their courage and outstanding achievements. Odysseus has many characteristic of a hero. From being determined to get back to his homeland and family, to being courageous about everything. Lastly to being smart and intelligent about what he does on his journey home. Odysseus displays all of these traits very well in the book The Odyssey by Homer. People in todays world who are fearless and are determined to go what it takes to r each their goalsRead MoreCharacteristics Of Odysseus1317 Words   |  6 Pagesexample, in The Odyssey by Homer, the main character Odysseus has many valuable traits that cause him to be seen as a hero. Throughout his adventures and journeys of, Odysseus portrays many qualities of a hero. These qualities, such as his thoughtful cleverness, strength and leadership, along with his determination are the reason why he is able to make it back to his homeland after 20 difficult years at sea, and be considered by many, a hero. Odysseus’ cleverness and ability to think ahead are just oneRead MoreCharacteristics Of Odysseus1440 Words   |  6 Pagesby Homer, Odysseus goes through this epic sea voyage that takes him nearly 10 years. Along the way, Odysseus faces many challenges he has to overcome in order to reach Ithaka, his home, but all his crew members end up dying because of Odysseus’ actions. Like the quote said by the Prophet Muhammad, Odysseus isn’t able to reach home quickly because of his arrogance and other flaws to his personality. Many readers will argue that Odysseus is a hero for returning home heroically, but Odysseus has manyRead MoreCharacteristics Of Odysseus750 Words   |  3 Pagesclever Odysseus â€Å"How do you like the beating that I gave you, you damned cannibal† (9.397-398)? This quote is from The Odyssey by Homer. This story is about the main character Odysseus and takes place after Odysseus defeated the Trojans in the Trojan War. After defeating the Trojans Odysseus is trying to get back to his home Ithaca. The story also mentions the cleverness and arrogance of Odysseus. Odysseus shows these traits in the confrontation with Polyphemus and the Sirens. Odysseus is arrogantRead MoreCharacteristics Of Odysseus755 Words   |  4 PagesOdyssey written by Homer is an adventure filled story with the main character, Odysseus. Odysseus is a man that many would call arrogant, but when it comes to his men, he does what is best. He and his men fought against many foes to get back to his home island, Ithaca. They stayed alive through Odysseus’s leadership, and through his leadership, his men stood strong to the very end. Some of the traits that qualify Odysseus as an outstanding hero that readers can admire include is his loyalty, strengthRead MoreCharacteristics Of Odysseus852 Words   |  4 Pagesthinks of when it comes to heroes. Odysseus is not only a king that goes through a lot, but he also has so many more features to his personality. Each trait develops over the course of the story and by the end of the book, Odysseus is a hero. Courage is the first trait someone might notice, because he is willing to take risks and give up ev erything, even his life. Intelligence is present in almost everything Odysseus does. Lastly, leadership is a trait that Odysseus has had since the very beginningRead MoreOdysseus : The Characteristics Of A Homeric Hero1720 Words   |  7 Pagesqualities (483). Odysseus fulfills all of the requirements for an epic hero and more. He demonstrates his ability to be an articulate speaker, and his poise aids him on his journey. His endless curiosity has gotten him into dilemmas, while his superb displays of strength and cunningness have helped both him and his crew escape danger. His arrogance sets him back, but his loyalty is what drives him forward on his long and treacherous expedition. In the first few lines of The Odyssey, Odysseus describes himselfRead MoreCharacteristics Of Odysseus As An Archetypal Hero873 Words   |  4 Pagesall want to be one. And some are just natural born heroes, for example, Odysseus from Homer’s â€Å"The Odyssey†, he is the archetypal hero in many ways. However, John the savage, from Aldous Huxley’s â€Å"Brave New World† has the characteristics of an archetypal hero but in the end, nothing is really achieved for him. Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell created the characteristics of an archetypal hero. They created these characteristics based on recurring patterns, images, and situations found in: mythologyRead MoreEpic Heroes : The Characteristics Of Odysseus1105 Words   |  5 Pagesachievements. Commonly, epic heroes would share similar characteristics which define them as one. Characteristics of epic heroes can be compared between different famous epics. Odysseus fits the criteria of an epic hero because he embodies the cultural values of perseverance, courage, and being loyal to his family and crew. Initially, Odysseus undergoes tasks, but perseveres through them even though they are nearly impossible to complete. After Odysseus passes the Sirens, he soon approaches the island thatRead MoreThe Four Characteristics Of Odysseus959 Words   |  4 Pagesyour best to learn from the wrong ones, -Unknown. In the epic poem, â€Å"The Odyssey† by Homer, the main character shows positive traits of a leader. I believe that Odysseus is primarily an effective leader. Now, yes he made poor judgment calls but that’s what being human is about, making mistakes learning from them, and moving forward. Odysseus showed many of the four traits including Communication, Delegation, innovation, and motivation in either a positive or negative way. Although he used these traits

Performance Appraisal as One of the Crucial Tools That Determines the Essay

Essays on Performance Appraisal as One of the Crucial Tools That Determines the Extent to Which the Employees Are Contributing to Their Organizations Essay The paper â€Å"Performance Appraisal as One of the Crucial Tools That Determines the Extent to Which the Employees Are Contributing to Their Organizations† is a  motivating variant of essay on management. This essay critically analyzes and evaluates a performance appraisal form by looking at the contents of an appraisal form and highlighting the importance of each component. The paper also uses theoretical knowledge concerning the purposes of performance appraisal and also the ways of improving performance appraisal. The paper is based on articles from scholarly and peer-reviewed journals and textbooks that have information about the performance appraisal.Performance appraisal is a method used to analyze, review or evaluate the performance of an employee or worker by the managers or supervisors. The performance appraisal process is considered to be part of managing and guiding the career development of employees in regard to their performance as argued by Harvard Business S chool Press (2009). It has also been described as the process of obtaining information, analyzing it and finally recording it. The information in question is usually about the relative worth of a worker within a particular organization. With performance appraisal, the recent failures and successes of an employee are analyzed. The personal strengths and weaknesses are also put under scrutiny so as to gauge the level of an employee’s strengths and weaknesses. The information that is collected from the performance appraisal process is used to gauge the suitability of a worker for promotion and further training as argued by Belak (2003). In most instances, appraisal results are utilized directly or indirectly in determining the reward outcomes. In simple terms, appraisal results are used in identifying better-performing workers who should get higher available merit pay increments, promotions, and bonuses. A performance appraisal usually evaluates the workers' performance in terms of quality, quantity, time and cost. It can as well be used as a part of directing and managing career improvement. It is important for the performance appraisal systems to fit into existing systems for it to be successful and effective.Performance appraisal judges the performance in a particular job based on certain criteria apart from productivity alone. Performance appraisal has a very brief history. This is because it mostly began in the early 20th Century. Performance appraisal began as a formal and distinct management practice not more than 60 years ago, from the time of the Second World War as argued by Karen (2008). However, the process of appraising performance is a very ancient art that began very many years ago. The process of appraisal in the workplace has been seen as universal and inevitable, especially by managers. Performance appraisal procedures began as simple methods that were used to justify the income that employees were given. This means that the appraisal pro cess was used to determine whether the salaries or wages given to employees were justified or not. This followed that if the performance of an employee was found to be less than what was expected of it, the pay of the employee would be ideally cut to suit the performance of the employee as stated by Bowen (2000). On the other hand, if the performance of an employee was found to be better than the expected standards, the employee would receive a pay rise that is in line with the level of performance. The process of appraisal gave very little consideration to the possibilities of developing the employees. If an employee performed well, there was supposed to be a rise in pay but if an employee performed poorly, a cut in pay would follow immediately. This raised questions about the dangers of performance appraisal, especially on staff motivation.

Facility and Risk Management Hospitality Operation

Question: Discuss about the Facility and Risk Management for Hospitality Operation. Answer: Introduction This venue design and condition analysis is focused on Grand Roxy reception situated in Brighton-Le-Sands proximity to Sydney International and Domestics Airports. This venue has many facilities and amenities for guests who visit to hold various events such as weddings, Christmas parties, and meetings among other occasions. Due to its large size, Grand Roxy can accommodate about three hundred guests; an aspect which makes it popular among the native visitors as well as tourists who frequent this region. This report paper is a detailed analysis meant to evaluate the suitability of this facility to ensure that all probable risks are efficiently mitigated. Analysis of Grand Roxy design principles Typically, staff members, guests and service visitors such as suppliers often make use of facilities like Grand Roxy. Therefore, is necessary to ensure the safety of these groups while using its space (Reiling, 2007). In this section, the external and internal design principles of Grand Roxy are discussed. As discoursed in the case history one of the domestic issues of this facility is poor maintenance. For many years the business has been operating with poorly maintained ceilings, carpets, furniture and ceilings until the owner received approval by the city council to refurbish the building. Renovating the restaurant will enhance its appearance and may motivate guests and event organizers to hold their occasions there. Moreover, the location of Grand Roxy can affect the experience of the attendees. It is situated near an airport and the Sydney CBD where it can tap many users of the services delivered around these amenities. Further, it is reported that the business has incurred unne cessary costs on revamps due to its location near the beach amid adverse weather conditions that have significantly affected the users negatively (Anis, 2016). Summarily, it can be argued that Grand Roxy has applied sparingly proper design principles since it can acquire a significant pool of customers to use their services hence generate enough income for the business continuity. Nevertheless, only a few changes as depicted above are necessary to ascertain that the expectations of all users of the premises are well met and their safety assured. Achievement of the intended purpose of the venue design The primary goal of Grand Roxy is to offer the best customer experience by providing unrestricted services. In the attempt to achieve this vision, the firm formulates and implements various strategies one among them being the proper design layouts. The size of the venue, for example, is huge enough to accommodate a large number of guests who use it. The dance floor situated in the middle of the reception is amply sizable measuring about 16 by 21(Anis, 2016). This aspect is critical in the accomplishment of the business' primary drive since there might be a lot of attendants willing to dance in the space at the same time (Harper, 2009). In general, the flooring of Grand Roxy is well designed to enable the firm to achieve its intended purpose. In addition, the business is strategically located near other social amenities attracting people. It is located near an airport, a beach and Sydney CBD and thus it is able to accommodate people using the services offered in these facilities. Meeting objectives of the business stakeholders As pointed out earlier, there are three groups of people who are the commonest users of the Grand Roxy amenity, namely the staff members, guests and service visitors. These individuals form the pool of key stakeholders in Grand Roxy. Ideally, their expectations and objectives have been sufficiently met. Often the primary goal of business owners is usually to make profits while at the same ensuring quality and splendid organization progress (Teicholz, 2001). In this case, owners of Grand Roxy have been able to acquire a significant customer base guaranteeing them of constant business growth and development. The company is generating enough funds for the owners enabling them to plough back proceeds and use them to renovate and expand the premises in various aspects. Besides, the employees working with Grand Roxy receive just remunerations as recompenses for their contributions to the success of the organization. The design standards, on the other hand, aid attendees a lot in meeting th eir expectations of service delivery (Borja, 2003).The venue is large enough to ensure that all visitors irrespective of their numbers are well accommodated. Moreover, the strategic location of Grand Roxy eases its productivity abilities hence augmenting its potentials of meeting their financial obligations as they fall due, thus meeting the objectives of the service providers. Grand Roxy designers did a commendable work in planning for location, maintenance and internal features of the firm. However, some considerations can be deemed essential in the organization of this business premises. To start with, it could have beneficial for both the visitors and the business if parking services were offered. Undercover and other parts of packing vehicles can lower the expenses incurred by guests while searching for such services outside the reception premises while at the same time generating extra income for the firm (Banarjee Associates, 2003). Furthermore, the location of Grand Roxy is subject to criticism. Besides, locating the facility near a beach is subjecting it to additional costs of repairing worn out iron items corroded by the salty vapor from the ocean. To avoid such inconveniences the designers could have considered locating the business in the interior of Sydney city where such occurrences would be significantly minimized Top of Form(Steiner Butler , 2007). Rational behind Venue Condition Assessment The process of conducting Venue Condition Assessment (VCA) in the context of the core services of an organization provides detailed information about the deficiencies of the premises. The analysis enables the management to figure out the areas in a facility where a renovation, renewal, and code compliance issues are required (Lillie, 2004). Besides, a detailed VCA not only allows the executives to spot deficiencies in a venue but also the net costs needed to remake them. It helps in determining both immediate and long-term cost expenditures for maintaining the business buildings thus used as a renewal forecasting tool (Minnesota Vfa, 2011). In other words, facility condition assessment enables managers to manage business assets as well as mitigating risks which deter its performance. The practice allows companies to account for their short-term financial requirements; determining how much is needed to refurbish a certain facility. In additions, VCA aids a lot in enhancing the compet itive needs of a firm since it enables managers to decide whether it has the environment that the public, students or employees have a preference (Kubba, 2008).Ultimately, facility condition assessment eases the building of stewardship, the best way to invest business capital as well as the amount needed (Deutscher Verband Fu?R Facility Management, International Facility Management Association. 2005). Despite its importance, VCA appraisal is associated with various challenges. The venue condition assessment exercise may lack ample support especially from the business management leading to imprecise and incorrect conclusions. Occasionally, predisposition of the analysts during the process may occur impelling them to incline to particular aspects of the venue and living others unattended Modified Grand Roxy Venue Condition Assessment Form Item Functionality Cleanliness Accessibility Overall condition Refurbishment Asset life cycle Facility condition index Year cost Age Life expectancy Design Excellent Good Fair Fair Celling Good Fair Good Good Carpet Fair Good Good Fair Lighting Good Fair Fair Excellent Hygiene Fair Good Fair Good Ambiance Excellent Good Excellent Good Tables Fair Good Fair Good Chairs Good Good Good Good Windows Poor Unsustainable Poor Poor Recommendations As shown in the condition assessment form above, Grand Roxy should be actively involved in renovating and refurbishing facilities since majority of them are in a deprived overall condition. The design standards of the firm though found to have an outstanding functionality needs to be remade owing to its normal general condition. The accessibility of the facility is rated fair and to improve on this, the organization can restructure the pathways leading to the premises. The same case applies to the ceiling facilities of the building regarded as good. To enhance thrilling appearance of the amenity, the management has budgeted for some money to maintain and prevent these ceilings and walls from damage. Another issue within Grand Roxy venue is the carpet since it is not appealing to the eyes probably due to the color and functionality. As a result, the interior theming of the carpet is rated as a fair because it is destitute hence the need for a refurbish. The lighting condition in the b uilding is outstanding, and as a result, the management does not have to budget for any repair anytime soon. Another area considered in the assessment is hygiene which according to the information provided is good implying that only minor adjustments are necessary to augment its rating from good to excellent. Ambiance defined as the atmosphere or the character of a place is above average in the chosen venue (Cotts, Roper, Payant, 2010). The fact that Grand Roxy is located at the periphery of the city makes it less noisy, and the atmosphere here is decent. Finally, analysis of furniture condition in the firm is conducted proving that the business is in dire need to renovate the windows of the buildings. The overall condition of tables and chairs is quite good implying that some slight renovations are essential. Conclusion This report focuses mainly on analyzing the situation and designing of Grand Roxy, the chosen venue. This assessment task is essential since it helps a learner to apply the concepts learned in class in real life situation. Grand Roxy is a typical venue offering services to people, and as learned in the module, it is important to manage the facilities of such places to ensure the safety of individuals is at heart. This report analyses the design standards of Grand Roxy which according to the findings needs to execute a few changes to ensure efficiency in risk management. Also discussed in the report is the venue condition assessment whose primary purpose is to spot deficiencies of the assets and henceforth provide the necessary course of actions. Some of the facilities in Grand Roxy are in a deprived condition and as such there the firm should involve itself in thorough renovation and refurbishing processes. References Reiling, J. (2007).Safe by design: designing safety in health care facilities, processes, and Culture. Oakbrook Terrace, Ill, Joint Commission Resources. Anis, M. (2016). A Case-History and a Venue Condition Assessment Form. Southern Cross University. Harper, J. (2009).Planning for recreation and parks facilities: predesign process, principles, And strategies. State College, Pa, Venture Publishing, Inc. Teicholz, E. (2001).Facility Design And Management Handbook. New York, Mcgraw-Hill.Http://Accessengineeringlibrary.Com/Browse/Facility-Design-And-Management-Handbook. Borja De Mozota, B. (2003).Design management: using design to build brand value and Corporate innovation. New York, Allworth Press. Banarjee Associates, (2003). An overview of common parking issues, parking management Options, and creative solutions. City of Pasadena. https://pipta.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Parking-Problems-and-Creative-Solutions.pdf Steiner, F. R., Butler, K. S. (2007).Planning and urban design standards. Hoboken, N.J., J. Wiley. https://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1031840. Lillie, K. (2004).Workshop on condition assessment inspection devices for water transmission Mains. Denver, Colo, Awwa Research Foundation. Minnesota, Vfa. (2011).Facility Condition Assessment for State of Minnesota State Office Building, St. Paul, Minnesota. https://www.leg.state.mn.us/edocs/edocs.asp?oclcnumber=948811272. Kubba, S. (2008).Property condition assessments. New York, McGraw-Hill. https://site.ebrary.com/id/10204566. Deutscher Verband Fu?R Facility Management, International Facility Management Association. (2005).Facility Management 2005: European Facility Management Conference, Exhibition Europe, Frankfurt am Main 19-21 April 2005, Tagungsband Proceedings. Berlin, Offenbach, VDE Verl. Cotts, D. G., Roper, K. O., Payant, R. P. (2010).The facility management handbook. New York, American Management Association. https://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=452592.

Frees Black Success through Hard Work or Af Essay Example For Students

Frees: Black Success through Hard Work or Af Essay firmative Action? affirmative argumentative persuasive Riches through Hard Work or Affirmative Action? In recent years Affirmative Action has become an issue of great interest. Affirmative Action, also known as Preferential Hiring, which was devised to create harmony between the different races and sexes, has divided the lines even more. Supporters on both sides seem fixed in their positions and often refuse to listen to the other groups platform. In this essay, the recipients of preferential hiring will be either black or female, and the position in question will be a professorship on the university level. The hirings in question are cases that involve several candidates, all roughly equal in their qualifications (including experience, education, people skills, etc. ), with the only difference being race and/or sex. What we have here is a case of predetermined preference. The two candidates in question are equal in all ways, except race. The black applicant is selected, not because of skills or qualifications (in that case the white man would have provided the same result), but for his skin color. This seems to be blatant discrimination, but many believe it is justified. Some feel retribution for years of discrimination is reason enough, but that issue will be discussed later. First, lets focus on why this is not a solution to creating an unbiased society. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream: I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. He desired a world without discrimination, without prejudice, and without stereotypes. The fundamental lesson years of discrimination should have taught is that to give anyone preference based on skin color, sex, or religious beliefs is, in one word, wrong. As Martin Luther King Jr. stated, judgment based on skin color must not exist. All preferential hiring does is keep judgments based on skin color alive. Race and sex should not be issues in todays society, yet preferential hiring continues to make these factors issues by treating minorities as a group rather than as individuals. More importantly preferential hiring may actually fuel, rather than extinguish, feelings of racial hostility. Applying the concept of preferential hiring to another situation may help elucidate its shortcomings. A party of white men and a party of black men both arrive at a restaurant at the same time and only one table is free. The headwaiter can only seat one party and must make a decision. According to preferential hiring theory it is necessary to seat the black party first, since historically blacks have been discriminated against when seated in restaurants. In another situation, a white man and a black man are both equidistant from the last seat on the bus. Both men are the same age, have no medical problems, and are equal in all ways except skin color. Should the black man get the seat since in the past black men have been discriminated against? We could continue this practice for several centuries before the debt we owe for depriving blacks of a seat on the bus would be paid. Perhaps these examples are invalid. It could be said that jobs are a different issue. They help define social status and provide economic well-being. They might even boost self-confidence, something that discrimination has stolen. Two points must be considered before moving any further. First, blacks may learn better from a black, and women may learn better from a woman. Second, hiring women and blacks will provide role models for others. .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892 , .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892 .postImageUrl , .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892 , .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892:hover , .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892:visited , .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892:active { border:0!important; } .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892:active , .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892 .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6a2cfcbc52d70268a081e0a6bc904892:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Organization Need People or People Need Organization Essay The first point Thomson quickly concedes as likely to be false. Discussion about the second point however is required, and will, in effect, serve to negate the first point as well. First, lets create a character, Bill. Bill is grossly overweight and unattractive. Studies have shown that many employers discriminate (whether subconsciously or not), against both overweight and unattractive individuals. Unfortunately for Bill, he fits into both categories. His inability to land a job reflective of his abilities, coupled with years of public humiliation through jokes made at his expense, has destroyed his self-esteem. This has caused .

How to Add Custom Fonts to Your WordPress Site (3 Methods)

Typography is more important than most people give it credit for. The fonts you use not only impact your website’s presentation, they can also make it stand out from other sites and render your content easier to read. Picking the same fonts as everyone else might be a safe bet, but it can be worth your while to add custom fonts to WordPress.Although WordPress includes a decent variety of font options out of the box, there are plenty of ways to improve on that selection. If you know how to include custom fonts on your website, you’ll be able to pick from thousands of exciting options. This will enable you to find a font that fits your niche and audience.In this article, we’re going to talk about what custom fonts are and where you can find some excellent choices. Then we’ll go over three methods you can use to upload custom fonts to WordPress. Let’s get to it! content management system (CMS) doesn’t include out of the box. There are thousands of custom font options that you can find online, and in general terms, nothing is stopping you from using any of them.Keep in mind, though – the fonts you choose shouldn’t just be aesthetically pleasing. They should also meet some additional criteria:Each font you include should be easy to read.It needs to fit in with the general style of your website and the other fonts you use.Letters should look good at both large and small sizes, since you need to keep mobile responsiveness in mind.Aside from these technical considerations, fonts provide you with an additional way to express your site’s style. They can become a part of your branding, and over time users might come to associate them with your site and business. So youll want to consider your choices very carefully.Where you can find custom fonts for your WordPress siteIf you do a quick search for ‘free fonts’ using any search engine right now, you’ll find hundreds of pages with broad selec tions to pick from:The problem, however, is that a lot of those free font websites don’t tend to have high standards when it comes to curating their selections. You may be able to find some jewels, but in many cases, they’ll also be full of fonts you wouldn’t be caught dead using even if you were working on a 2005 MySpace profile.Fortunately, there are a lot of excellent font repositories that do go to great lengths to curate their collections. One of our favorites is Google Fonts, which offers over 900 font families in several languages, all of them free:Another excellent option is Adobe Fonts  (formerly Typekit), which provides over 1,700 font families to choose from. Keep in mind, though – to access them you’ll need a Creative Cloud subscription (any tier will do). If you’re an Adobe user, that means you already have access to the entire font collection:These two sources alone will give you plenty of options to choose from. Keep in mind when making your selection that each font you choose should fit in with the rest of your site’s style, and be easy to read. Once youve found a few fonts you like, all thats left is to add them to your website.How to add custom fonts to your WordPress site (three methods)When it comes to custom fonts, WordPress provides you with several ways that you can implement the options you want. Let’s go over what each involves, so you can select the method that works best for you.1. Edit your themes fileIf you don’t want to upload font files to your website manually, you can always ‘import’ them from third-party repositories. With Google Fonts, for example, you can open any font page you want and click on Select This Font  at the top of the screen:Once you do that, a new menu will appear that includes two snippets of code. The first one should look like this:link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Robotodisplay=swap" rel="stylesheet"This code sh ould be placed within the head tags of your child theme’s header.php file. You can find this within your theme’s folder in the public_html/wp-content/themes directory.With that line, you’re telling WordPress to import the option you selected from Google Fonts. To use it, though, you’ll also need to open your child theme’s stylesheet and specify which elements should take advantage of your new font. Here’s what that code should look like:font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;Remember, your child theme’s stylesheet should be within the same directory as its header.php file. That means you can take care of both tasks in the same place, and implement new fonts in just a few minutes.2. Upload your fonts file to your themes folderIf you’re all about performance optimization, uploading font files to your website directly can enable you to shave a few milliseconds off your loading times. The first thing you’ll need, of course, is th e font file you want to upload to your server:Since WordPress doesn’t include a dedicated fonts folder, you’ll want to create one using your trusty FTP client. You can add the folder wherever you want, but we recommend placing it within your themes directory so you can keep track of it. Set it up now, and upload your font file to the new folder:Once the file is in place, open up your child theme’s stylesheet. Now you’ll need to call on that font so you can use it, via a snippet that should look like this:@font-face { font-family: New Font; src: url(http://www.yourwebsite.com/wp-content/themes//fonts/your-new-font.ttf); font-weight: normal; }Please note the font family name and URL above are placeholders, which you’ll need to replace with the right information.Once youve entered this code, don’t close your theme’s stylesheet just yet. You still need to configure which elements will use the new font, with some code thats very similar to what we looked at in the last section:.h1 site-title { font-family: "New Font", Arial, sans-serif; }In this example, we’re configuring our H1 subheadings to use the new font. However you can replace that with any other element you want, or multiple elements if youd like to use the font in more than one place.3. Use a pluginAs is often the case, the easiest way to implement new functionality in WordPress is to install a plugin. When it comes to using custom fonts, there are a lot of options to pick from.For example, if you want to use Google Fonts, we recommend the aptly-named Google Fonts for WordPress plugin. After activating this tool, you’ll be able to pick from the entire Google Fonts catalog for your pages and posts, without the need to add any code to your website: Google Fonts Typography Author(s): Custom Fonts Author(s): Brainstorm ForceCurrent Version: 1.2.0Last Updated: October 3, 2019custom-fonts.1.2.0.zip 94%Ratings 232,599Downloads WP 4.4+Requires With this plugin, you get to upload fonts to your website right from the dashboard, and use the Customizer to pick where and when to use them. Either of these plugins makes it a breeze to add new custom fonts to your site.ConclusionIf you pay attention to the fonts that websites use, you’ll notice that many of them stick to the same few tried-and-true choices. Some fonts are pretty safe bet when it comes to readability and user accessibility. However, with thousands of options to choose from – both free and paid – its worth looking for one that also fits your website’s style and audience perfectly.As for how to upload custom fonts to WordPress, you can go about it using three different approaches:Edit your theme’s file.Upload the font’s file to your themes folder.Use a WordPress custom fonts plugin. Want to add custom fonts to #WordPress? Here are 3 easy ways to do it 🅠°Ã¯ ¸  #tutorial Click To Tweet Do you have any questions about what types of fonts you should use on your website? Let’s talk about them in the comments section below!Free guide5 Essential Tips to Speed Up Your WordPress SiteReduce your loading time by even 50-80% just by following simple tips.

Legalize or Unlegalize Gambling essays

Legalize or Unlegalize Gambling essays What role does the government have in legalizing or not legalizing gambling? State lotteries date back to Colonial America. In that time lotteries were used to pave streets and to fund other public work. However, in the 1870s, gambling scandals involving bribery of state and federal officials led to lotteries being outlawed altogether. Most other forms of gambling were outlawed as well. In 1960, New Hampshire paved the way with the first legalized state lottery. Of the fifty states 47 states and The District of Columbia followed shortly after in a lottery. When voters in New Jersey authorized casinos for Atlantic City in 1976, many felt that the lid of restriction of gambling had blown off. Some form of gambling is legal in 48 states. Forty-seven state governments now conduct lotteries (Thompson). Unless these states are willing to give up all the money they get from these lotteries they will still be legal. Yet, has the state government really looked at the benefits and liabilities of legalized gambling? Legalized gambling is a liability to states and local communities. Many reasons support this threat of moral downfall in America. There are benefits and liabilities of legalized gambling. Some benefits include state tax revenues and jobs among others. However, the liabilities are much greater. A few of the liabilities include moral decay of the family, increased crime, and severe addiction. Casinos offer quality jobs, economic development and capital investment in their communities. Some jobs a casino creates are dealers, servers, parking, maintenance, and security. This in turn drops the communities unemployment rate. According to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission (NGISC), in Mississippi, the casino industry pays about 3% of the states entire work force. The commission found that "destination type resorts" such as casinos, offer major economic advantages over what they called "convince type gambling." Co...

Developing an Implementation Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Developing an Implementation Plan - Assignment Example Second, the program will undergo formal approval through Site-Based Research (SBR) Units Review (Carter, Reitmeier & Goodloe, 2014). The success of this program implementation process will rely on the support and participation of peers and unit leaders. Peer support will ensure that the implementation process will take the shortest time possible. Additionally, peer support will contribute to enthusiasm and buy-in for the implementation process. Administrative support is equally important because it will influence the degree to which institutions will implement the program. Below is the process of obtaining informal approval: Formal approval will require the submission of the program implementation plan to Site Based Research Review (SBR). SBR will review the proposal to assess the validity and legality of the contents of the plan. Afterward, the SBR will assign a director who will then forward the proposal to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for review. The implementation will then commence after the approval of the IRB. Research studies reveal that health associated infections (HAIs) are some of the most common complications that healthcare organizations and practitioners face. For instance, a new research study reveals that more than two million people develop HAIs every year. The infections result in approximately 1,000 deaths every year. HAIs are also responsible for health care costs in excess of 30 billion dollars. Thus, addressing the issue of HAIs is critical in reducing healthcare costs and enhances patient safety. One of the approaches to addressing the problem of HAIs is reducing the prevalence of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) among patients. CAUTIs are the most typical examples of HAIs, and they account for more than 35 percent of infections. The U.S. Department of Health estimates the total annual cost of CAUTI to be 565 million dollars, and the annual rate of deaths from CAUTI is

The Western Treatment of Illness versus Alternative Therapies of Essay

The Western Treatment of Illness versus Alternative Therapies of Probiotics, Herbs and Cleansing Regimens - Essay Example Bacteria which are immune to the traditional treatments of antibiotics have become a serious issue for practitioners and the general public. Over-reliance on antibiotics by family doctors, and non-compliance by patients (usually through lack of understanding about the nature of antibiotics and bacteria) has produced infections such as Clostridium difficile, known as C. dif, which require very intensive therapies and are very resistant to treatment. It therefore makes sense for scientists to consider whether alternative therapies are of any benefit in providing an alternative to antibiotics. Complementary therapy such as herbs may actually cheaper than conventional medications. A study comparing standard anti-depressants with St John's Wort found that the side effects of the herb were only 10 percent that of the medications, and the herb was only one-fourth the cost of the anti-depressant. (Jonas, W. 209). Treatment of Helicobacter Pylori through antibiotics is : The side effects of antibiotics often result in a significant failure to complete the course - this has repercussions both in the duration of the illness, and the likelihood of the bacteria becoming resistant to treatment. Studies have shown that probiotics act rapidly (Mattila-Sandholm et all, 2000). In addition, it is widely acknowledged that patients are complacent about antibiotics, (Guardian 2005), and complementary therapy could provide a solution to that problem (Jonas, 208) Alternative therapies also provide a 'holistic' treatment, though some clinicians feel that it is nonsense to claim that conventional medicine does not treat the whole person (Baum, 1988)However, there is evidence that probiotics strengthen the immune system (Kailasapathy, Chin, 82; Senok, Ismaeel, and Botta, 959-960), providing long-term benefits for the patient. In cases where the patient is vulnerable to infection, this may be of particular interest. Problems with CAM Although many people take CAM without problems, there are safety issues which mean that alternative therapy is not benign. Firstly, the herbs themselves may be toxic in large doses (Silverstein et al, 162), they may be contra-indicated with conventional medication (Silverstein, 162; Jonas 209), and generally less well regulated (Senok, 959). There is also little hard evidence that CAM's are more effective than conventional treatments (Mattila-Sandholm, 394; Langmead, Rampton, 348), and despite some clinicians' feelings that CAM's have a beneficial effect, some studies seem to show the opposite (Gionchetti, et al, 492). The biggest concern over the use of CAM in treating bacterial diseases, however, is the fact that many probiotics and herbal medicines are targeted at the healthy

The Motives of Enculturation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Motives of Enculturation - Essay Example   Markedly, upon interviewing two individuals from different cultures; a Guatemala and Tibetan, it’s evident that enculturation, measured by the career values and choices made are directly influenced by family cultures. The first interviewee was a Tibetan registered nurse, working in a public hospital. For confidential purposes, the interviewees’ fine details including the hospital’s name are withheld. Being born in late 1979 his parents were typical Tibetans who lived in the southern parts of USA. He was brought up in a rural set-up, lived in the discrimination era and hence spent most of his childhood time with Asian natives. Currently, the interviewee acknowledged that he lives in a completely different environment, amidst blacks, Asians, Latin natives and whites, both at workplace and neighborhood: hence his own culture has become less important. The second interviewee was a Guatemalan woman, working in a cereal production farm. The lady in question was ambitious, social and maintained a cheerful face all through the interview time, responding to the questions precisely and splendidly. Contrary to her cultural obligation, the lady confirmed that she was a senior agricultural officer in the firm she worked for. Similar to the Tibetan guy, the lady was also brought up in suburban areas, was in her mid-thirties, almost turning 35, with her parents being traditionally encompassed. She was a graduate, the only girl in a family of three, and illiterate parents. Both respondents appeared to be positive about the interview. They cheerfully responded to the questions as it was a platform to confess the advantages that accrued from their enculturation process.  Ã‚  

Capitalism And Consumerism Of Society

Capitalism And Consumerism Of Society Present society in the west is characterized by a capitalist economic system that is founded on private ownership of property and a profit driven economy. This economy has consequently produced few super rich individuals and further stratified the western society, (Banish the bloated overclass, p. 71). Capitalism is different to a socialist economic system where ownership of property is by the state or communally (Shachtman, p.96). The profit driven economy encourages businesses and enterprises to exploit the market for the sole purpose of making a profit. The marketing strategies of capitalism have therefore created a society of consumers whose benefit is through consumption on the individual level while the monetary profits go to the capitalists. Capitalism has created a society that consumer based and the new phenomenon has been labeled as consumerism. Consumerism has extended even into those areas, which were previously under state control as opposed to being under the control of private corporations. These include the health sector and education among others. The presence of numerous corporations which provide all kinds of services and merchandise have expanded the choices available to consumers. This has created societies, which are based on consumerism as opposed to the earlier societies, which were work based. A consumer society can be identified by the consumption habits of individuals while a work based societys identity lies in the citizenship and occupations of individuals, (Shachtman, p.101). In addition, the consumer society has evolved into a new culture, which has diverse and often contradicting principles to those of work and citizenship. Consequently, capitalists, out to maximum their revenue realization venture into global markets to exploit new markets. This will eventually lead to a single global culture based on consumerism, and individual consumer patterns based on cultural uniqueness and other such factors will be eliminated. As capitalists devise new ways of maximizing their profits, the consumers in a society based on consumerism look for goods of high quality and with the lowest cost. Consequently, both the consumers and the capitalists are not driven by social responsibility and do not try to deal with issues that are created by capitalism and consumerism. Social respon sibility is in the hands of the government and the society but the culture of consumerism and capitalism encourages individualism as each entity is in pursuit of its own goals without considering how some of these goals might be affecting others and the society in genera, (Shachtman, p.106). The nature of the western society made it possible to be targeted for consumer society. A society full of egocentricity, deceptive advertising, nihilism, and values subjectivism to academic goals is easier to sway to the path of consumerism. In such a society where economic growth is the only important thing to any individual and has the capabilities and the power to displace or degrade moral values as we traditionally knew them, the gauge of self worth is always buying power. Those in a position to buy and own property have a more reinforced worth in a society upholding consumerism. The contribution of the media can not be ignored as it continues to create an image which everyone in the western society tries to fit in thus distorting the self worth and self awareness of each person. It is the goal of every capitalist to seduce a large television audience into identification of his personality with specifically designed consumer ideas and advertising fantasies. We no longer possess t he ability to do our things independent of consumerism justification. Advertising duplicity and consumerism are now potential threats to the individuation process and consciousness regardless of continued linking of capitalism to the beginning of consciousness. Social cultural meaning diminishes as it is exploited further by media which siphons inexpressible content in order to attract more consumers. The ability to control consumption gives most capitalists the power to influence the evolvement of different consumption patterns over time. They employ different but simple mechanisms like the promise of a simpler life. The end result is a consumer revolution which in turn forced a relevant reaction in terms of information, communication and technology leading to even more production of goods and services. The goods which result from this high production forces the capitalist society to convince more people to consume goods and alters the basic institution through generation of new ideologies for pleasure. A completely new description of pleasure can also result. One of the major set back of capitalism and consumerism is witnessed at times of economic crisis. The capitalist system has been able to solve the entire crisis but considerably harming the environment especially when we consider the waste created and the resources utilized. A consumer culture is exploitative, both indirectly and indirectly. Consumption of goods and services involves spending money, which is not equally available across a society that is founded on capitalism. Considering that most resources are not infinite, there must be mechanisms that ensure that they rationed. In this context, consumption does not allow full choice for all individuals but only to those who have the purchasing power, (could you afford to be poor, p. 75). This means that vital services under the control of capitalist structures are not accessible to those who cannot afford them. Scott, (2005) states that good medical care and education is not accessible to the poor meaning that people in loose their lives if they do not have the money to have their illnesses fixed. This brings in the question of whether these divisions should only be for the wealthy or should be available for all. In this regard, consumerism culture may work more towards protecting the possessions of the wealthy through a consumerism culture, which is divisive in nature. The illusion that consumerism puts forward is that of choice for all, which is an effective way of ensuring that the deprived do not harbor sentiments that the capitalist system is short charging them. Consumerism therefore divides the haves from the have-nots and further stratifies the society. In the essay Going to extremes: CEOs vs. Slaves, the author notes the wide margins in terms that exist between the capitalist and consumers, noting that CEOs earn as much as 260% more that the third highest executive, (p. 70). The essay further notes that billionaires, created by capitalism exploit the labor market by subjecting employees to slave-like working conditions with a peanut salary. As much as consumer goods are available across the society, only those who have the money to purchase will benefit. This, according to Karl Marx, is the root of most societal problems, which arise from controlled consumption because of poverty. In a consumerism culture, individuals are motivated by the ability to acquire what they desire. This is not an obstacle for those who can afford it, but for the poor, it is continuous challenge to keep up with consumerism. Although this culture may make products, especially technology readily available in the market, those whose purchasing power is limited will not have access. Technology like PCs, hi-tech communication devices such as phones, LCD TVs and so forth remain unobtainable to the poor. The resulting economic disparity serves only to paint a dreary future for the affected economies. As the rich gain more control and the poor are left with fewer alternatives, the political hierarchy in turn adheres to these policies which violate the commonly held ideas regarding peaceful coexistence and human rights resulting to a self propagating system of exploitation. The corporate capitalist view the consumer only as a target and only embark on factors which control interests thus alter ing culture; putting this up for sale is always made easier by the media advertising. Although there exists some constitutional guarantees, the corporate capitalist anyway subjects the public to economic and political systems which only exploit the rights of the many to the benefits of the few. The major contributors are always the movers of government policies which results to political agenda based on their cravings. This inability to access what they desire will lead individuals, especially those from poor backgrounds to engage in all manner of crimes in order to afford what they want. Juvenile burglary, drug peddling and prostitution are some crimes that are associated with people from poor backgrounds. Individuals driven by what they want will engage in activities, which violate the rights of others just to have enough power to purchase commodities. Just like the elite and the wealthy who own the manufacturing and distributing franchises and are solely driven by maximizing their profits, the consumers are driven by the ability to purchase as much as they can. This individuality, by the capitalists and the consumers alike, often infringe on the rights of others and over exploit available resources to achieve individual ends. Capitalist engage in unethical practices in order to maximum their revenue. In a society that is increasingly being taken up by the consumerism culture, the capitalists are faced with stiff competition as many more industries and companies come up to get their share of the profits. This creates an atmosphere of intense competitiveness among the capitalists who want to attract and retain a bigger market share. In order to this, they need to advertise their goods so that they are widely recognized by the consumers. Consequently, most of these advertisements are misleading to the consumer who in the end is unable to make an informed decision about the quality of the goods or services. A good example is the Macdonalds fast food chain, which previously advertised meals as healthy for children. This statement had to be revised when it was established that the meals so called healthy were responsible for childhood obesity, not to mention other lifestyle diseases that are rooted in the consu mption of greasy food. Therefore, the capitalists not only exploits the consumer by providing sub-standard goods, but may also provide false information, which may ultimately pose a serious risk to the health, life and overall well-being of the consumer. Every individual in the society has the capability of selling his or her labor products. Capitalist mode of production does not support this system. All what they need is a disjointed tie between producers and the means they use for production. This simply means that, the peasant farmers to loose their farms, artisans and constructors to loose their tools among other means to deny these people access. With deprived access, these people have no choice but to seek those who have the means of production to use their land and tools and in return gain some wages. The means of production is therefore the ultimate control as it gives you the opportunity to control the goods produced which are in turn bought by back by the same people who labor to produce them. The gap between the two groups is widened as the laborers are turned once again into consumers and the money taken back by those who own the means of production. They just lend you the money for sometime; but they own it. Consumerism has also led to environmental degradation in so many ways. In order to meet the demands of consumers in such a society, and in a world where resources are increasingly becoming depleted, manufactures will look for alternative sources of raw materials in other countries or localities. After they have exhausted the resources, they will move on to the next stop, without concern of how their activities are affecting the environment. In Hardings, (2001), before you finish eating breakfast this morning, he cites the production of rubber, which has led to extensive deforestation in Thailand, which has consequently resulted to increased urbanization. It is no wonder, that the issue of global warming has become a worrying reality to many governments around the world. Global warming has led to climatic changes, whose effects are felt more by people in the developing countries. This is because most of them rely on agriculture and the major source of GDP and unpredictable weather cyc les, droughts as well as floods means that agriculture can no longer be relied on for national revenue. Developing countries are constantly faced with food shortages and global warming has worsened the situation. Global warming is also caused by industry emissions, which destroy the Ozone layer in the atmosphere. Global warming is deeply rooted in industrialization, which in itself was fueled by capitalism and later consumerism. The means used to obtain these resources further destroys the environment. Harding, (2001) notes, tuna from Somalia is fished using explosives, which destroys the coastal eco system. Bananas obtained from the Dominican Republic are grown using chemical fertilizer, which destroys the soil balance. Consumerism and capitalism are enemies of the people. Behind the fancy advertisements, symbolic values, and the promise of merchandise lays their true value characterized and driven by profit making. It is a mechanism by which big businesses ensure continued buying by the consumers not only aimed at profit making. Obsession with consumerism coarsens the moral fiber to a state where the society no longer up holds tradition, but allows itself to be oppressed by structures of consumerism and credit obligations. Consumerism is nothing but a myth meant top make those who believe in it that they can gratify all their needs only through consuming. Cultural fulfillment and social obligations are sacrificed in the altar of gratification associated with owning property and buying goods. The truth is, this gratification is short lived and adds joy for a short moment to those who cal afford to gratify this need and leads to sadness to those who can not afford to fund this need. However, this gra tification deprives us the overall fulfillment of other important cultural mythologies. When culture is commercialized, there is always a lot to loose in terms of perceived reality. Our perception looses its depth, richness and periphery. For these, and other negative reasons that are associated with capitalism and the consumerism culture, it is imperative for the society to take action sooner than later in order to avoid inflicting permanent damage to the society fabric and the environment, which sustains it. Capitalism has created a materialistic society based on individual gratification without much thought of the impact on other people, cultures and environment. Such individual gratification has facilitated societal evils such as human trafficking; drug trafficking, prostitution and forms of crimes. To begin with, changing the consumerism culture in western society is not going to be an easy task, and will definitely not happen overtime. This culture is so ingrained in western societies to the extent that it is now second nature. A more difficult task will be changing the mentality of capitalism from profit realization to moral and social responsibility. Presently, there are groups and movements that are emerging which set an example in the way to change the consumerism culture in American people. The social groups and movements engage in activities such as garbage bin hunting. These people scour dustbins in supermarkets and hotels to get food that has been thrown away but is not spoilt. The foods included canned foods and packaged vegetables, which are thrown out simply because they have minor blemishes. This may seem like an extreme method but it is sending the message to society. That wastage leads to depletion of resources, in addition to denying them to other people who need them. Achieving change is not a task that can be accomplished by one element in this chain of capitalism and consumerism. To begin with, the government should establish policies and guidelines that will ensure that resources are not exploited or depleted. Secondly, the government should also tighten regulations that will protect the environment from abuse by unscrupulous capitalists. Current measures are not effective, evidenced in the current BP oils spill in the Mexican Gulf, which is threatening marine life over a large area. With these guidelines by and punitive measures incase they are violated; the society will be ready to begin the journey towards self-transformation without the use of extreme means that characterize revolutions. However, this kind of change can only begin when the society becomes conscientious about the damage of their current habits and their long-term effects. People may perceive consumerism as a convenient lifestyle where they are able to buy anything to make life easier. However, people should realize that this convenience has adverse effects on the freedoms of others and the environment. Industries should also become more conscientious, and ensure that they do not destroy the very environment that makes their businesses possible in a bid to make quick profits. The industry should acknowledge their moral and social responsibility and ensure that their practices are environmental friendly, do not exploit resources or the market. This can be achieved through civic education of the industry management on safe practices as well as the consumers on how to minimize waste and consider how the products they choose to buy are affecting others. This aspect is demonstrated by the current campaign b eing made for the use green products. In the background of global warming that is threatening the very existence of planet earth, numerous campaigns have been launched that admonish individuals to become environmentally conscious. This movement is referred to as the green revolution where society is going green and demanding only those products that are manufactured in ways that do not harm the environment. The green movement is making progress, as manufactures and merchandisers are compelled to use products and processes that do not destroy the already fragile environment. Even for those who are reluctant to make changes, they have no alternative, as the environmental conscious consumer will simply shun purchasing such products. The effectiveness of the green revolution has been great, and consumers should subsequently step up the movement by demanding more products to go green or else loose their market. Products that have gone green include foodstuff, clothing, technology, which includes phones and computers, furnitur e, toys and even cars. Everyone in the society can contribute to the green revolution by encouraging recycling, avoiding wasteful buying especially packaged food and the use of recyclable goods.

Robert Frosts Desert Places and Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening :: Robert Frost Poet Poems Desert Woods Essays

Robert Frost's "Desert Places" and "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" Robert Frost takes our imaginations to a journey through wintertime with his two poems "Desert Places" and "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening". Frost comes from a New England background and these two poems reflect the beautiful scenery that is present in that part of the country. Even though these poems both have winter settings they contain very different tones. One has a feeling of depressing loneliness and the other a feeling of welcome solitude. They show how the same setting can have totally different impacts on a person depending on their mindset at the time. These poems are both made up of simple stanzas and diction but they are not simple poems.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the poem "Desert Places" the speaker is a man who is traveling through the countryside on a beautiful winter eventing. He is completely surrounded with feelings of loneliness. The speaker views a snow covered field as a deserted place. "A blanker whiteness of benighted snow/ With no expression, nothing to express". Whiteness and blankness are two key ideas in this poem. The white sybolizes open and empty spaces. The snow is a white blanket that covers up everything living. The blankness sybolizes the emptyness that the speaker feels. To him there is nothing else around except for the unfeeling snow and his lonely thoughts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The speaker in this poem is jealous of the woods. "The woods around it have it - it is theirs." The woods symbolizes people and society. They have something that belongs to them, something to feel a part of. The woods has its place in nature and it is also a part of a bigger picture. The speaker is so alone inside that he feels that he is not a part of anything. Nature has a way of bringing all of her parts together to act as one. Even the animals are a part of this wintery scene. "All animals are smothered in their lairs,/ I am too absent-spirited to count". The snow throws its blanket of whiteness over everything and to him it is a feeling of numbness.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  "The loneliness includes me unawares". The speaker has lost his enthusiasm for life. He can not express his feelings easily because of this feeling of numbness. The speaker is also in denial about feeling alone. He is at a stage where he just does not care about too much and he is feeling a bit paranoid. "They cannot scare me with their empty space." He is saying who cares how I feel, I do not need anyone else.

Angels Demons Chapter 13-15

13 Langdon stared in bewilderment at the study before him. â€Å"What is this place?† Despite the welcome blast of warm air on his face, he stepped through the door with trepidation. Kohler said nothing as he followed Langdon inside. Langdon scanned the room, not having the slightest idea what to make of it. It contained the most peculiar mix of artifacts he had ever seen. On the far wall, dominating the decor, was an enormous wooden crucifix, which Langdon placed as fourteenth-century Spanish. Above the cruciform, suspended from the ceiling, was a metallic mobile of the orbiting planets. To the left was an oil painting of the Virgin Mary, and beside that was a laminated periodic table of elements. On the side wall, two additional brass cruciforms flanked a poster of Albert Einstein, his famous quote reading: God Does Not Play Dice With the Universe Langdon moved into the room, looking around in astonishment. A leather-bound Bible sat on Vetra's desk beside a plastic Bohr model of an atom and a miniature replica of Michelangelo's Moses. Talk about eclectic, Langdon thought. The warmth felt good, but something about the decor sent a new set of chills through his body. He felt like he was witnessing the clash of two philosophical titans†¦ an unsettling blur of opposing forces. He scanned the titles on the bookshelf: The God Particle The Tao of Physics God: The Evidence One of the bookends was etched with a quote: True science discovers God waiting behind every door. Pope Pius XII â€Å"Leonardo was a Catholic priest,† Kohler said. Langdon turned. â€Å"A priest? I thought you said he was a physicist.† â€Å"He was both. Men of science and religion are not unprecedented in history. Leonardo was one of them. He considered physics ‘God's natural law.' He claimed God's handwriting was visible in the natural order all around us. Through science he hoped to prove God's existence to the doubting masses. He considered himself a theo-physicist.† Theo-physicist? Langdon thought it sounded impossibly oxymoronic. â€Å"The field of particle physics,† Kohler said, â€Å"has made some shocking discoveries lately – discoveries quite spiritual in implication. Leonardo was responsible for many of them.† Langdon studied CERN's director, still trying to process the bizarre surroundings. â€Å"Spirituality and physics?† Langdon had spent his career studying religious history, and if there was one recurring theme, it was that science and religion had been oil and water since day one†¦ archenemies†¦ unmixable. â€Å"Vetra was on the cutting edge of particle physics,† Kohler said. â€Å"He was starting to fuse science and religion†¦ showing that they complement each other in most unanticipated ways. He called the field New Physics.† Kohler pulled a book from the shelf and handed it to Langdon. Langdon studied the cover. God, Miracles, and the New Physics – by Leonardo Vetra. â€Å"The field is small,† Kohler said, â€Å"but it's bringing fresh answers to some old questions – questions about the origin of the universe and the forces that bind us all. Leonardo believed his research had the potential to convert millions to a more spiritual life. Last year he categorically proved the existence of an energy force that unites us all. He actually demonstrated that we are all physically connected†¦ that the molecules in your body are intertwined with the molecules in mine†¦ that there is a single force moving within all of us.† Langdon felt disconcerted. And the power of God shall unite us all. â€Å"Mr. Vetra actually found a way to demonstrate that particles are connected?† â€Å"Conclusive evidence. A recent Scientific American article hailed New Physics as a surer path to God than religion itself.† The comment hit home. Langdon suddenly found himself thinking of the antireligious Illuminati. Reluctantly, he forced himself to permit a momentary intellectual foray into the impossible. If the Illuminati were indeed still active, would they have killed Leonardo to stop him from bringing his religious message to the masses? Langdon shook off the thought. Absurd! The Illuminati are ancient history! All academics know that! â€Å"Vetra had plenty of enemies in the scientific world,† Kohler went on. â€Å"Many scientific purists despised him. Even here at CERN. They felt that using analytical physics to support religious principles was a treason against science.† â€Å"But aren't scientists today a bit less defensive about the church?† Kohler grunted in disgust. â€Å"Why should we be? The church may not be burning scientists at the stake anymore, but if you think they've released their reign over science, ask yourself why half the schools in your country are not allowed to teach evolution. Ask yourself why the U.S. Christian Coalition is the most influential lobby against scientific progress in the world. The battle between science and religion is still raging, Mr. Langdon. It has moved from the battlefields to the boardrooms, but it is still raging.† Langdon realized Kohler was right. Just last week the Harvard School of Divinity had marched on the Biology Building, protesting the genetic engineering taking place in the graduate program. The chairman of the Bio Department, famed ornithologist Richard Aaronian, defended his curriculum by hanging a huge banner from his office window. The banner depicted the Christian â€Å"fish† modified with four little feet – a tribute, Aaronian claimed, to the African lungfishes' evolution onto dry land. Beneath the fish, instead of the word â€Å"Jesus,† was the proclamation â€Å"Darwin!† A sharp beeping sound cut the air, and Langdon looked up. Kohler reached down into the array of electronics on his wheelchair. He slipped a beeper out of its holder and read the incoming message. â€Å"Good. That is Leonardo's daughter. Ms. Vetra is arriving at the helipad right now. We will meet her there. I think it best she not come up here and see her father this way.† Langdon agreed. It would be a shock no child deserved. â€Å"I will ask Ms. Vetra to explain the project she and her father have been working on†¦ perhaps shedding light on why he was murdered.† â€Å"You think Vetra's work is why he was killed?† â€Å"Quite possibly. Leonardo told me he was working on something groundbreaking. That is all he said. He had become very secretive about the project. He had a private lab and demanded seclusion, which I gladly afforded him on account of his brilliance. His work had been consuming huge amounts of electric power lately, but I refrained from questioning him.† Kohler rotated toward the study door. â€Å"There is, however, one more thing you need to know before we leave this flat.† Langdon was not sure he wanted to hear it. â€Å"An item was stolen from Vetra by his murderer.† â€Å"An item?† â€Å"Follow me.† The director propelled his wheelchair back into the fog-filled living room. Langdon followed, not knowing what to expect. Kohler maneuvered to within inches of Vetra's body and stopped. He ushered Langdon to join him. Reluctantly, Langdon came close, bile rising in his throat at the smell of the victim's frozen urine. â€Å"Look at his face,† Kohler said. Look at his face? Langdon frowned. I thought you said something was stolen. Hesitantly, Langdon knelt down. He tried to see Vetra's face, but the head was twisted 180 degrees backward, his face pressed into the carpet. Struggling against his handicap Kohler reached down and carefully twisted Vetra's frozen head. Cracking loudly, the corpse's face rotated into view, contorted in agony. Kohler held it there a moment. â€Å"Sweet Jesus!† Langdon cried, stumbling back in horror. Vetra's face was covered in blood. A single hazel eye stared lifelessly back at him. The other socket was tattered and empty. â€Å"They stole his eye?† 14 Langdon stepped out of Building C into the open air, grateful to be outside Vetra's flat. The sun helped dissolve the image of the empty eye socket emblazoned into his mind. â€Å"This way, please,† Kohler said, veering up a steep path. The electric wheelchair seemed to accelerate effortlessly. â€Å"Ms. Vetra will be arriving any moment.† Langdon hurried to keep up. â€Å"So,† Kohler asked. â€Å"Do you still doubt the Illuminati's involvement?† Langdon had no idea what to think anymore. Vetra's religious affiliations were definitely troubling, and yet Langdon could not bring himself to abandon every shred of academic evidence he had ever researched. Besides, there was the eye†¦ â€Å"I still maintain,† Langdon said, more forcefully than he intended. â€Å"that the Illuminati are not responsible for this murder. The missing eye is proof.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Random mutilation,† Langdon explained, â€Å"is very†¦ un – Illuminati. Cult specialists see desultory defacement from inexperienced fringe sects – zealots who commit random acts of terrorism – but the Illuminati have always been more deliberate.† â€Å"Deliberate? Surgically removing someone's eyeball is not deliberate?† â€Å"It sends no clear message. It serves no higher purpose.† Kohler's wheelchair stopped short at the top of the hill. He turned. â€Å"Mr. Langdon, believe me, that missing eye does indeed serve a higher purpose†¦ a much higher purpose.† As the two men crossed the grassy rise, the beating of helicopter blades became audible to the west. A chopper appeared, arching across the open valley toward them. It banked sharply, then slowed to a hover over a helipad painted on the grass. Langdon watched, detached, his mind churning circles like the blades, wondering if a full night's sleep would make his current disorientation any clearer. Somehow, he doubted it. As the skids touched down, a pilot jumped out and started unloading gear. There was a lot of it – duffels, vinyl wet bags, scuba tanks, and crates of what appeared to be high-tech diving equipment. Langdon was confused. â€Å"Is that Ms. Vetra's gear?† he yelled to Kohler over the roar of the engines. Kohler nodded and yelled back, â€Å"She was doing biological research in the Balearic Sea.† â€Å"I thought you said she was a physicist!† â€Å"She is. She's a Bio Entanglement Physicist. She studies the interconnectivity of life systems. Her work ties closely with her father's work in particle physics. Recently she disproved one of Einstein's fundamental theories by using atomically synchronized cameras to observe a school of tuna fish.† Langdon searched his host's face for any glint of humor. Einstein and tuna fish? He was starting to wonder if the X-33 space plane had mistakenly dropped him off on the wrong planet. A moment later, Vittoria Vetra emerged from the fuselage. Robert Langdon realized today was going to be a day of endless surprises. Descending from the chopper in her khaki shorts and white sleeveless top, Vittoria Vetra looked nothing like the bookish physicist he had expected. Lithe and graceful, she was tall with chestnut skin and long black hair that swirled in the backwind of the rotors. Her face was unmistakably Italian – not overly beautiful, but possessing full, earthy features that even at twenty yards seemed to exude a raw sensuality. As the air currents buffeted her body, her clothes clung, accentuating her slender torso and small breasts. â€Å"Ms. Vetra is a woman of tremendous personal strength,† Kohler said, seeming to sense Langdon's captivation. â€Å"She spends months at a time working in dangerous ecological systems. She is a strict vegetarian and CERN's resident guru of Hatha yoga.† Hatha yoga? Langdon mused. The ancient Buddhist art of meditative stretching seemed an odd proficiency for the physicist daughter of a Catholic priest. Langdon watched Vittoria approach. She had obviously been crying, her deep sable eyes filled with emotions Langdon could not place. Still, she moved toward them with fire and command. Her limbs were strong and toned, radiating the healthy luminescence of Mediterranean flesh that had enjoyed long hours in the sun. â€Å"Vittoria,† Kohler said as she approached. â€Å"My deepest condolences. It's a terrible loss for science†¦ for all of us here at CERN.† Vittoria nodded gratefully. When she spoke, her voice was smooth – a throaty, accented English. â€Å"Do you know who is responsible yet?† â€Å"We're still working on it.† She turned to Langdon, holding out a slender hand. â€Å"My name is Vittoria Vetra. You're from Interpol, I assume?† Langdon took her hand, momentarily spellbound by the depth of her watery gaze. â€Å"Robert Langdon.† He was unsure what else to say. â€Å"Mr. Langdon is not with the authorities,† Kohler explained. â€Å"He is a specialist from the U.S. He's here to help us locate who is responsible for this situation.† Vittoria looked uncertain. â€Å"And the police?† Kohler exhaled but said nothing. â€Å"Where is his body?† she demanded. â€Å"Being attended to.† The white lie surprised Langdon. â€Å"I want to see him,† Vittoria said. â€Å"Vittoria,† Kohler urged, â€Å"your father was brutally murdered. You would be better to remember him as he was.† Vittoria began to speak but was interrupted. â€Å"Hey, Vittoria!† voices called from the distance. â€Å"Welcome home!† She turned. A group of scientists passing near the helipad waved happily. â€Å"Disprove any more of Einstein's theories?† one shouted. Another added, â€Å"Your dad must be proud!† Vittoria gave the men an awkward wave as they passed. Then she turned to Kohler, her face now clouded with confusion. â€Å"Nobody knows yet?† â€Å"I decided discretion was paramount.† â€Å"You haven't told the staff my father was murdered?† Her mystified tone was now laced with anger. Kohler's tone hardened instantly. â€Å"Perhaps you forget, Ms. Vetra, as soon as I report your father's murder, there will be an investigation of CERN. Including a thorough examination of his lab. I have always tried to respect your father's privacy. Your father has told me only two things about your current project. One, that it has the potential to bring CERN millions of francs in licensing contracts in the next decade. And two, that it is not ready for public disclosure because it is still hazardous technology. Considering these two facts, I would prefer strangers not poke around inside his lab and either steal his work or kill themselves in the process and hold CERN liable. Do I make myself clear?† Vittoria stared, saying nothing. Langdon sensed in her a reluctant respect and acceptance of Kohler's logic. â€Å"Before we report anything to the authorities,† Kohler said, â€Å"I need to know what you two were working on. I need you to take us to your lab.† â€Å"The lab is irrelevant,† Vittoria said. â€Å"Nobody knew what my father and I were doing. The experiment could not possibly have anything to do with my father's murder.† Kohler exhaled a raspy, ailing breath. â€Å"Evidence suggests otherwise.† â€Å"Evidence? What evidence?† Langdon was wondering the same thing. Kohler was dabbing his mouth again. â€Å"You'll just have to trust me.† It was clear, from Vittoria's smoldering gaze, that she did not. 15 Langdon strode silently behind Vittoria and Kohler as they moved back into the main atrium where Langdon's bizarre visit had begun. Vittoria's legs drove in fluid efficiency – like an Olympic diver – a potency, Langdon figured, no doubt born from the flexibility and control of yoga. He could hear her breathing slowly and deliberately, as if somehow trying to filter her grief. Langdon wanted to say something to her, offer his sympathy. He too had once felt the abrupt hollowness of unexpectedly losing a parent. He remembered the funeral mostly, rainy and gray. Two days after his twelfth birthday. The house was filled with gray-suited men from the office, men who squeezed his hand too hard when they shook it. They were all mumbling words like cardiac and stress. His mother joked through teary eyes that she'd always been able to follow the stock market simply by holding her husband's hand†¦ his pulse her own private ticker tape. Once, when his father was alive, Langdon had heard his mom begging his father to â€Å"stop and smell the roses.† That year, Langdon bought his father a tiny blown-glass rose for Christmas. It was the most beautiful thing Langdon had ever seen†¦ the way the sun caught it, throwing a rainbow of colors on the wall. â€Å"It's lovely,† his father had said when he opened it, kissing Robert on the forehead. â€Å"Let's find a safe spot for it.† Then his father had carefully placed the rose on a high dusty shelf in the darkest corner of the living room. A few days later, Langdon got a stool, retrieved the rose, and took it back to the store. His father never noticed it was gone. The ping of an elevator pulled Langdon back to the present. Vittoria and Kohler were in front of him, boarding the lift. Langdon hesitated outside the open doors. â€Å"Is something wrong?† Kohler asked, sounding more impatient than concerned. â€Å"Not at all,† Langdon said, forcing himself toward the cramped carriage. He only used elevators when absolutely necessary. He preferred the more open spaces of stairwells. â€Å"Dr. Vetra's lab is subterranean,† Kohler said. Wonderful, Langdon thought as he stepped across the cleft, feeling an icy wind churn up from the depths of the shaft. The doors closed, and the car began to descend. â€Å"Six stories,† Kohler said blankly, like an analytical engine. Langdon pictured the darkness of the empty shaft below them. He tried to block it out by staring at the numbered display of changing floors. Oddly, the elevator showed only two stops. Ground Level and LHC. â€Å"What's LHC stand for?† Langdon asked, trying not to sound nervous. â€Å"Large Hadron Collider,† Kohler said. â€Å"A particle accelerator.† Particle accelerator? Langdon was vaguely familiar with the term. He had first heard it over dinner with some colleagues at Dunster House in Cambridge. A physicist friend of theirs, Bob Brownell, had arrived for dinner one night in a rage. â€Å"The bastards canceled it!† Brownell cursed. â€Å"Canceled what?† they all asked. â€Å"The SSC!† â€Å"The what?† â€Å"The Superconducting Super Collider!† Someone shrugged. â€Å"I didn't know Harvard was building one.† â€Å"Not Harvard!† he exclaimed. â€Å"The U.S.! It was going to be the world's most powerful particle accelerator! One of the most important scientific projects of the century! Two billion dollars into it and the Senate sacks the project! Damn Bible-Belt lobbyists!† When Brownell finally calmed down, he explained that a particle accelerator was a large, circular tube through which subatomic particles were accelerated. Magnets in the tube turned on and off in rapid succession to â€Å"push† particles around and around until they reached tremendous velocities. Fully accelerated particles circled the tube at over 180,000 miles per second. â€Å"But that's almost the speed of light,† one of the professors exclaimed. â€Å"Damn right,† Brownell said. He went on to say that by accelerating two particles in opposite directions around the tube and then colliding them, scientists could shatter the particles into their constituent parts and get a glimpse of nature's most fundamental components. â€Å"Particle accelerators,† Brownell declared, â€Å"are critical to the future of science. Colliding particles is the key to understanding the building blocks of the universe.† Harvard's Poet in Residence, a quiet man named Charles Pratt, did not look impressed. â€Å"It sounds to me,† he said, â€Å"like a rather Neanderthal approach to science†¦ akin to smashing clocks together to discern their internal workings.† Brownell dropped his fork and stormed out of the room. So CERN has a particle accelerator? Langdon thought, as the elevator dropped. A circular tube for smashing particles. He wondered why they had buried it underground. When the elevator thumped to a stop, Langdon was relieved to feel terra firma beneath his feet. But when the doors slid open, his relief evaporated. Robert Langdon found himself standing once again in a totally alien world. The passageway stretched out indefinitely in both directions, left and right. It was a smooth cement tunnel, wide enough to allow passage of an eighteen wheeler. Brightly lit where they stood, the corridor turned pitch black farther down. A damp wind rustled out of the darkness – an unsettling reminder that they were now deep in the earth. Langdon could almost sense the weight of the dirt and stone now hanging above his head. For an instant he was nine years old†¦ the darkness forcing him back†¦ back to the five hours of crushing blackness that haunted him still. Clenching his fists, he fought it off. Vittoria remained hushed as she exited the elevator and strode off without hesitation into the darkness without them. Overhead the flourescents flickered on to light her path. The effect was unsettling, Langdon thought, as if the tunnel were alive†¦ anticipating her every move. Langdon and Kohler followed, trailing a distance behind. The lights extinguished automatically behind them. â€Å"This particle accelerator,† Langdon said quietly. â€Å"It's down this tunnel someplace?† â€Å"That's it there.† Kohler motioned to his left where a polished, chrome tube ran along the tunnel's inner wall. Langdon eyed the tube, confused. â€Å"That's the accelerator?† The device looked nothing like he had imagined. It was perfectly straight, about three feet in diameter, and extended horizontally the visible length of the tunnel before disappearing into the darkness. Looks more like a high-tech sewer, Langdon thought. â€Å"I thought particle accelerators were circular.† â€Å"This accelerator is a circle,† Kohler said. â€Å"It appears straight, but that is an optical illusion. The circumference of this tunnel is so large that the curve is imperceptible – like that of the earth.† Langdon was flabbergasted. This is a circle? â€Å"But†¦ it must be enormous!† â€Å"The LHC is the largest machine in the world.† Langdon did a double take. He remembered the CERN driver saying something about a huge machine buried in the earth. But – â€Å"It is over eight kilometers in diameter†¦ and twenty-seven kilometers long.† Langdon's head whipped around. â€Å"Twenty-seven kilometers?† He stared at the director and then turned and looked into the darkened tunnel before him. â€Å"This tunnel is twenty-seven kilometers long? That's†¦ that's over sixteen miles!† Kohler nodded. â€Å"Bored in a perfect circle. It extends all the way into France before curving back here to this spot. Fully accelerated particles will circle the tube more than ten thousand times in a single second before they collide.† Langdon's legs felt rubbery as he stared down the gaping tunnel. â€Å"You're telling me that CERN dug out millions of tons of earth just to smash tiny particles?† Kohler shrugged. â€Å"Sometimes to find truth, one must move mountains.†

Scorpion Fish Facts (Scorpaenidae)

Scorpion Fish Facts (Scorpaenidae) The term scorpion fish refers to a group of ray-finned fishes in the family Scorpaenidae. Collectively, they are called rockfish or stonefish because they are bottom dwellers camouflaged to resemble rocks or coral. The family includes 10 subfamilies and at least 388 species. Important genera include the lionfish (Pterois sp.) and stonefish (Synanceia sp.). All scorpion fish have venomous spines, giving the fish their common name. While stings can be fatal to humans, the fish are not aggressive and only sting when threatened or injured. Fast Facts: Scorpion Fish Scientific Name: Scorpaenidae (species include Pterois volitans, Synaceia horrida)Other Names: Lionfish, stonefish, scorpionfish, rockfish, firefish, dragonfish, turkeyfish, stingfish, butterfly codDistinguishing Features: Compressed body with wide mouth and conspicuous, venomous dorsal spinesAverage Size: Under 0.6 meters (2 feet)Diet: CarnivorousLife Span: 15 yearsHabitat: Coastal tropical, subtropical, and temperate seas worldwideConservation Status: Least ConcernKingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataClass: ActinopterygiiOrder: ScorpaeniformesFamily: ScorpaenidaeFun Fact: Scorpion fish not aggressive. They only sting if they are threatened or injured. Description The scorpion fish has a compressed body with ridges or spines on its head, 11 to 17 dorsal spines, and pectoral fins with well-developed rays. The fish come in all colors. Lionfish are brightly colored, so potential predators can identify them as a threat. Stonefish, on the other hand, have mottled coloring that camouflages them against rocks and coral. The average adult scorpion fish is under 0.6 meters (2 feet) in length. Except for lionfish, scorpion fish have a mottled coloration that serves as camouflage. LITTLE DINOSAUR / Getty Images Distribution Most members of the Scorpaenidae family live in the Indo-Pacific, but species occur worldwide in tropical, subtropical, and temperate seas. Scorpion fish tend to live in shallow coastal water. However, a few species occur as deep as 2200 meters (7200 feet). They are well-camouflaged against reefs, rocks, and sediment, so they spend most of their time near the sea floor. The red lionfish and common lionfish are invasive species in the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the United States. The only effective method of control to date has been NOAAs campaign of Lionfish as Food. Encouraging consumption of the fish not only helps control lionfish population density, but also helps protect overfished grouper and snapper populations. Reproduction and Life Cycle Female scorpion fish release between 2,000 and 15,000 eggs into the water, which are fertilized by the male. After mating, the adults move away and seek cover to minimize attention from predators. The eggs then float to the surface to minimize predation. Eggs hatch in after two days. The newly-hatched scorpion fish, called fry, remain near the surface until they are around about an inch long. At this time, they sink to the bottom to seek a crevice and begin hunting. Scorpion fish live up to 15 years. Diet and Hunting The carnivorous scorpion fish preys upon other fish (including other scorpion fish), crustaceans, mollusks, and other invertebrates. A scorpion fish will eat virtually any other animal that can be swallowed whole. Most scorpion fish species are nocturnal hunters, while lionfish are most active in the morning daylight hours. Some scorpion fish wait for prey to approach. Lionfish actively hunt and attack prey, using a bilateral swim bladder to precisely control body position. To catch prey, a scorpion fish blows a jet of water toward its victim, disorienting it. If the prey is a fish, the jet of water also causes it to orient against the current so that its facing the scorpion fish. Head-first capture is easier, so this technique improves hunting efficiency. Once the prey is positioned correctly, the scorpion fish sucks in its prey whole. In some cases, the fish uses its spines to stun prey, but this behavior is fairly uncommon. Predators While its likely that predation of eggs and fry is the primary form of natural population control of scorpion fish, its unclear what percentage of scorpion fish young are eaten. Adults have few predators, but sharks, rays, snappers, and sea lions have been observed hunting the fish. Sharks appear to be immune to scorpion fish venom. Although scorpion fish are venomous, they are gentle animals. This diver is feeding a lionfish. Justin Okoye / EyeEm / Getty Images Scorpion fish arent fished commercially because of the risk of stings. However, they are edible, and cooking the fish neutralizes the venom. For sushi, the fish may be eaten raw if the venomous dorsal fins are removed before preparation. Scorpion Fish Venom and Stings Scorpion fish erect their spines and inject venom if they are bitten by a predator, grabbed, or stepped on. The venom contains a mixture of neurotoxins. Typical symptoms of poisoning include intense, throbbing pain that lasts up to 12 hours, peaking in the first hour or two following the sting, as well as redness, bruising, numbness, and swelling at the sting site. Severe reactions include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, tremors, decreased blood pressure, shortness of breath, and abnormal heart rhythms. Paralysis, seizures, and death are possible, but are usually restricted to stonefish poisoning. The young and elderly are more susceptible to the venom than healthy adults. Death is rare, but some people are allergic to the venom and may suffer anaphylactic shock. Australian hospitals keep stonefish anti-venom on hand. For other species and for stonefish first aid, the first step is to remove the victim from water to prevent drowning. Vinegar may be applied to reduce pain, while the venom may be inactivated by immersing the sting site in hot water for 30 to 90 minutes. Tweezers should be used to remove any remaining spines and the area should be scrubbed with soap and water and then flushed with fresh water. Medical care is required for all scorpion fish, lionfish, and stonefish stings, even if the venom appears to be deactivated. Its important to be certain that no spine remnants remain in the flesh. A tetanus booster may be recommended. Conservation Status Most species of scorpion fish have not been evaluated in terms of conservation status. However, the stonefish Synanceia verrucosa and Synanceia horrida are listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List, with stable populations. The luna lionfish Pterois lunulata and red lionfish Pterois volitans are also least concern. The population of red lionfish, an invasive species, is increasing. While no significant threats face scorpion fish at this time, they may be at risk from habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. Sources Doubilet, David (November 1987). Scorpionfish: Danger in Disguise. National Geographic. Vol. 172 no. 5. pp. 634–643. ISSN 0027-9358Eschmeyer, William N. (1998). Paxton, J.R.; Eschmeyer, W.N., eds. Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 175–176. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.Morris J.A. Jr., Akins J.L. (2009). Feeding ecology of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) in the Bahamian archipelago. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 86 (3): 389–398. doi:10.1007/s10641-009-9538-8Sauners P.R., Taylor P.B. (1959). Venom of the lionfish  Pterois volitans.  American Journal of Physiology.  197: 437–440Taylor, G. (2000). Toxic fish spine injury: Lessons from 11 years experience. South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society Journal. 30 (1). ISSN 0813-1988