|
ããíÒ : Best English Essays | ÃÝÖá ÊÞÇÑíÑ ÅäÌáíÒíå - ãÊÌÏÏ ÇáÓáÇã Úáíßã æÑÍãÉ Çááå æÈÑßÇÊå http://www.m5zn.com/uploads/cdaa6bb508.gif Best English Essays | ÃÝÖá ÊÞÇÑíÑ ÅäÌáíÒíå ãÊÌÏÏ . . . áæÓãÍÊæÇ áÇÍÏ íÖÚ ÑÏ ÚÇáãæÖæÚ. ÇáÊÞÇÑíÑ ãä ÇáÑÏ ÇáÃæá æ ÇáÝåÑÓ åäÇ ãÊÌÏÏ smoke Stress The Gift The Desert The Desert - 2 Wedding Customs First Day At School Internet Penetaration Comparison Essay - Holiday Why Chose Dubai For Holiday? Islamic view on abortion . . |
smoke [B] Opening When your parents were young, people could buy cigarettes and smoke pretty much anywhere - even in hospitals! Ads for cigarettes were all over the place. Today we're more aware about how bad smoking is for our health. Smoking is restricted or banned in almost all public places and cigarette companies are no longer allowed to advertise on buses or trains, billboards, TV, and in many magazines. Almost everyone knows that smoking causes cancer, emphysema, and heart disease; that it can shorten your life by 14 years or more; and that the habit can cost a smoker thousands of dollars a year. So how come people are still lighting up? The answer, in a word, is addiction. Project: Once You Start, It's Hard to Stop Smoking's a hard habit to break because tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive. Like heroin or other addictive drugs, the body and mind quickly become so used to the nicotine in cigarettes that a person needs to have it just to feel normal. Almost no smoker begins as an adult. Statistics show that about nine out of 10 tobacco users start before they're 18 years old. Some teens who smoke say they start because they think it helps them look older (it does - if yellow teeth and wrinkles are the look you want). Others smoke because they think it helps them relax (it doesn't - the heart actually beats faster while a person's smoking). Some light up as a way to feel rebellious or to set themselves apart (which works if you want your friends to hang out someplace else while you're puffing away). Some start because their friends smoke - or just because it gives them something to do. Some people, especially girls, start smoking because they think it may help keep their weight down. The illnesses that smoking can cause, like lung diseases or cancer, do cause weight loss - but that's not a very good way for people to fit into their clothes! Another reason people start smoking is because their family members do. Most adults who started smoking in their teens never expected to become addicted. That's why people say it's just so much easier to not start smoking at all. The cigarette ads from when your parents were young convinced many of them that the habit was glamorous, powerful, or exciting - even though it's essentially a turnoff: smelly, expensive, and unhealthy. Cigarette ads from the 1940s even showed doctors recommending cigarettes as a way to relax! Cigarette ads still show smokers as attractive and hip, sophisticated and elegant, or rebellious and cool. The good news is that these ads aren't as visible and are less effective today than they used to be: Just as doctors are more savvy about smoking today than they were a generation ago, teens are more aware of how manipulative advertising can be. The government has also passed laws limiting where and how tobacco companies are allowed to advertise to help prevent young kids from getting hooked on smoking. How Smoking Affects Your Health There are no physical reasons to start smoking - the body doesn't need tobacco the way it needs food, water, sleep, and exercise. In fact, many of the chemicals in cigarettes, like nicotine and cyanide, are actually poisons that can kill in high enough doses. The body's smart and it goes on the defense when it's being poisoned. For this reason, many people find it takes several tries to get started smoking: First-time smokers often feel pain or burning in the throat and lungs, and some people feel sick or even throw up the first few times they try tobacco. The consequences of this poisoning happen gradually. Over the long term, smoking leads people to develop health problems like cancer, emphysema (breakdown of lung tissue), organ damage, and heart disease. These diseases limit a person's ability to be normally active - and can be fatal. Each time a smoker lights up, that single cigarette takes about 5 to 20 minutes off the person's life. Smokers not only develop wrinkles and yellow teeth, they also lose bone density, which increases their risk of osteoporosis (pronounced: ahs-tee-o-puh-row-sus, a condition that causes older people to become bent over and their bones to break more easily). Smokers also tend to be less active than nonsmokers because smoking affects lung power. Smoking can also cause fertility problems in both men and women and can impact sexual health in males. The consequences of smoking may seem very far off to many teens, but long-term health problems aren't the only hazard of smoking. Nicotine and the other toxins in cigarettes, cigars, and pipes can affect a person's body quickly, which means that teen smokers experience many of these problems: • Bad skin. Because smoking restricts blood vessels, it can prevent oxygen and nutrients from getting to the skin - which is why smokers often appear pale and unhealthy. An Italian study also linked smoking to an increased risk of getting a type of skin rash called psoriasis. • Reduced athletic performance. People who smoke usually can't compete with nonsmoking peers because the physical effects of smoking - like rapid heartbeat, decreased circulation, and shortness of breath - impair sports performance. • Greater risk of injury and slower healing time. Smoking affects the body's ability to produce collagen, so common sports injuries, such as damage to tendons and ligaments, will heal more slowly in smokers than nonsmokers. • Increased risk of illness. Studies show that smokers get more colds, flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia than nonsmokers. And people with certain health conditions, like asthma, become more sick if they smoke (and often if they're just around people who smoke). Because teens who smoke as a way to manage weight often light up instead of eating, their bodies lack the nutrients they need to grow, develop, and fight off illness properly. :suggestions and recomandations Smoking Is Expensive Not only does smoking damage health, it costs an arm and a leg. Depending on where you live, smoking a pack of cigarettes a day can cost about $1,800 dollars a year. That adds up. It's money you could save or spend on something for yourself. The good news for people who don't smoke or who want to quit is that studies show that the number of teens who smoke is dropping dramatically. Today, only about 22% of high school students smoke, down from 36% just 7 years ago. Ending : If you do smoke and want to quit, there's more information and support out there than ever. Different approaches work for different people - for some, quitting cold turkey is best, whereas others find that a slower approach is the way to go. Some people find that it helps to go to a support group especially for teens; these are sometimes sponsored by local hospitals or organizations like the American Cancer Society. And the Internet offers a number of good resources. Check out some of these by clicking on the Resources tab to the right of this article. When quitting, it can be helpful to realize that the first few days are the hardest, and it's normal to have a few relapses before you manage to quit for good.Staying smoke free will give you a whole lot more of everything - more energy, better performance, better looks, more money in your pocket, and, in the long run, more life to live |
Stress Stress: Everybody knows what stress is. Stress is an integral part of our urban lifestyle. It has become a normal part of life, although it is generally known that stress is bad for health. But, doesn't stress also have advantages? Is stress the same as burden? What is stress?: First of all we want to make clear what exactly stress is. The body's adaptive response to abnormal circumstances (like threats or demands) from a new or changing situation is called stress. The term "stress" refers both to certain heightened mental and body states and to the causes of such states. Nowadays the symptoms of stress are well known. When the human body is under stress (whether it is real or imaginary) Adrenaline is poured into the bloodstream. As a result of that the pulse quickens, the blood pressure raises and the muscle tension increases. Furthermore you may feel more criticized by others, become more pessimistic, cynical, or resentful than usual. Things you normally look forward to may seem like a burden. A lot of people are not aware of being under stress. Some are frequently under so much stress that they assume the feeling is normal. Pros: By hearing the word "stress" most people think of something unpleasant and bad. But that is only conditionally true. Stress has also several positive aspects: A lot of people (students!) take stress as a replacement for self-discipline. They just can't start working without time-pressure. They need to know a certain date when they must finish their work.. (like students before a test) It is known, that people work better, faster and more effective under stress. There are people, who are even more creative under stress! This is because of the height Adrenaline ******* into your bloodstream. Stress is said to be the best sport doping (Adrenaline). During a sport activity, Stress encourages and raises the attention / strength. Under stress the human body is able to do better to do better physical achievements. Last but not least, some producers of stress (such as physical exercise, various emotional states, and creative activity) are usually very healthy! But be careful, continuous high levels of stress are not. Contras: On the other hand, stress has much more disadvantages than advantages. Stress is bad for your health! A lot of people react to stress with aggressiveness, competitiveness, and self-imposed pressure to get things done. This behavior has been linked to increased rates of heart attack, high blood pressure and other diseases. Stress can also affect the immune system, causing the body to be less resistant to a wide range of other health problems. Most people can't think clear under stress. They make false decision and work superficial (slapdash). Stress causes reduced concentration ability. Stress doesn't only affect you; it also has an effect on your environment. If you're under stress and nervous, your (school/work) friends automatically become like you. A stressed person has a bad influence on the work/school atmosphere. A lot of friendships have broken down because of excessive stress. It is said, that stress is the most common "illness" at the moment. I am not of the same opinion. As I look at it, everybody reacts different to stress. While some people become aggressive and nervous, other people may be equally serious in their intentions, but are more patient. So, it is not possible to say, whether stress is good or bad. It just depends on the person. Furthermore I think that stress is unavoidable nowadays. But if you're once under stress, try to manage it the best possible. Why not making stress work for you as a source of energy? Better you use your energies by being creative than wasting them by getting furious. Signs of Stress: In researching stress, one would learn about what stress is, the early warning signs of stress, the different types of stress, and how to build resistance to it. Stress is a combination of physical, mental, and emotional feelings that result from pressure, worry, and anxiety. The pressures from stress are called stressors. Some examples of common stressors are: divorce, death in the family, job change, pregnancy, a large mortgage, marriage, and retirement. "In medicine, stress is, a physical, chemical, or emotional development that causes strains that can lead to physical illness." (Microsoft Encarta) Some of the most common symptoms of stress are emotional distress, muscular problems, and stomach problems. Emotional distress includes anger, irritability, and anxiety. Muscular problems such as tension headaches, upper and lower back pain, and jaw pain (TMJ), are symptoms of stress. Muscular tensions that lead to pulled muscles and tendon and ligament problems, are symptoms of stress as well. Other symptoms of stress are stomach, gut and bowel problems. Heartburn, acid stomach, ulcers, flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome are examples of these problems. Symptoms like cold hands or feet, shortness of breath, and chest pain are also common. The early warning signs of stress include apathy, anxiety, irritability, mental fatigue, and overcompensation or denial. What is stressful for one person, may or may not be stressful for another; each person responds to stress in a different way. A person can plan their life so that stress doesn't overwhelm them. Managed stress makes people productive and happy. There are four types of stress. There is acute stress, episodic acute stress, chronic stress, and traumatic stress. Each type of stress has its own characteristics, symptoms, duration, and treatments. Acute stress is the common type of stress. Acute stress is exciting and thrilling in small amount, but too much is exhausting. Overdoing it on acute stress can lead to psychological distress, tension headaches, upset stomach, and other symptoms. Some examples of stressors that can cause acute stress are: an auto accident that crumpled the car fender; a child's occasional problems at school; and so on. Acute stress doesn't have enough time to do extensive damage that is associated with long-term stress. Episodic Acute stress is what people who suffer from acute stress frequently have. These people's lives are so disorderly that they are constantly in a state of chaos and crisis. There are always in a hurry, but they are always late. Another form of episodic acute stress comes from no-stop worry. These people tend to be over aroused and tense. The symptoms of episodic acute stress are the symptoms of extended over arousal: persistent tension headaches, migraines, hypertension, chest pain, and heart disease. Suffers are usually very resistant to change of any kind. Acute stress can come up in anyone's life but it is highly treatable and manageable. A more serious type of stress is chronic stress. "Chronic stress is the grinding stress that wears people away day after day, year after year." (Battison, 1997 p. 19) It destroys minds, bodies, and lives. Chronic stress comes when a person doesn't see a way out of a miserable situation. The worst part of chronic stress is that people get used to it and forget that it's there. Chronic stress kills by means of suicide, violence, heart attack, stroke, and perhaps, even cancer. The symptoms of chronic stress are hard to treat and could require a lot of medical and behavioral treatment, therapy, and stress management Traumatic stress is a special kind of chronic stress, known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is caused by trauma that is not handled correctly. Some example of traumatic experiences are: accidents, rape, verbal, physical, psychological, or sexual abuse, being in the presence of extreme violence, a brush with death, natural disasters, death of a loved one, and imprisonment. The symptoms of PTSD are flashbacks, over arousal, emotional numbness or loss of feeling, along with extreme emotional outbursts to minor things. People with PTSD suffer from problems with concentration, controlling impulses, and decision making, The long term consequences of PTSD are depression, anxiety, behavioral disorders, multiple personality disorder, and suicide. There are three basic strategies for dealing with stress. The first strategy is altering situations to make them less stressful. Avoiding stressful situations is the next strategy. Accepting stressful situations is the other basic strategy in dealing with stress at the source. Each strategy has it's disadvantages and it's advantages. It's up to every person to decide which one to use with which situation. "The tougher a person's resistance to stress is, the more stress they can take." (Hanson, 1985 p.52) There is a lot a person can do to maximize their resistance to stress. People have resources to help them handle stress. The re resources include family and financial resources, social and spiritual resources, as well as personal resources. They can also develop good health habits and get rid of bad health habits to help build up a resistance to stress. Improving a person's nutritional habits makes them much less susceptible to stress. Stress is something that everyone takes on in their day to day lives. It is a part of our daily routines and sometimes builds up to the point where we think it is unbearable. There are many things that cause stress, yet at the same time there are many things that help us relieve it. Stress can cause physical as well as emotional illnesses but it has also been proven that too little stress can be harmful as well. There are many different ways of handling stress. Some are for the goodness of one's physical well being where as some are for one's emotional well being. There are even some that help with both. All in all stress seems to occur depending on one9s perception of events, people, and daily things for stress occurs on different occasions for different people. References. • Adams, J.D. Understanding and Managing Stress, San Diego: University Associates. Kalat, J.W. (1993). • Pfeifer, J.E., and Ogloff, J.R.P. Making the Grade: Strategies for Succeeding at University. Lincoln: JEP and JRPO Rathbone, J.L. (1969). • The American Institute of Stress American Institute of Stress is dedicated to advancing understanding of Stress in Health and Illness. • Stress Free NET Stress Free - Welcome • Stress less Stress Less ® |
Weddings In The U.a.e The wedding in the UAE consider as an important tradition of the culture. And this tradition developed from the past to present in many ways. We can notice this changing in bride’s preparation for her wedding, groom preparation and traditional music. Bride’s preparation in the past it was simple, but now get more complicated and difficult. Bride’s preparation for her wedding in the past was really simple it's only contains henna and sorts of traditional oils and perfumes from head to toe. These days the preparation of wedding specially the bride costs much than before. The most effective factor in high price of wedding is the jewelry and Addahbia. Anther factor which it is the party of wedding if it in tent it will cost much money, but in hotel is much better to make the party. In the UAE most people like doing their party of wedding in tent which cost much. In the past the party only contains family member, but these days they expand the invitation The celebrating of wedding in the past took one week before the wedding night and one of the celebrating is the henna night or Laylat Al Henna which is a very special night for the bride since it is a ladies’ night only. The henna night is a time for all the bride’s sisters, female family members, and girlfriends to get together and sing and dance. In the present it takes less than week and some time it takes only one day which is wedding day. The groom preparation in the past was simple and these days it consider simple if we compare it with bride preparation. Traditional music in wedding is playing a big role in our culture. In the past the traditional music continuous singing, and dancing take place reflecting the joy shared by the bride’s and the groom’s family. Nowadays, we depend in DJ music, but we still kept the traditional of dancing special in man's celebrating. Another traditional element of the UAE customs is the Arabian Kohl or eyeliner. Nowadays, we can see the make-up with different colors. In the wedding night the bride wear a simple dress, nowadays, the bride wear a white wedding dress which expensive depending on it style. We can see how different the wedding dress form the past till Nowadays. In the past the food was simple and contain from traditional types of food like harees, freed and rice and meat. Nowadays, there is unlimited type of food and drink we see it in wedding night. Cake is important in wedding these days. In the past was rice and meat the important of wedding night. In conclusion, there is a big different in wedding in the past from present in all ways. The difference from the past in bride and groom preparation mostly. In the past the wedding cost nothing comparing nowadays. All these stuff make marrying in the UAE so difficult and led man's marrying outside the country. References: Some Muslim World Wedding Customs ZAWAJ.COM: Wedding Customs Around the World |
ãÔßæÑ Îæíå Ú ÇáÌåÏ íÚØíß ÇáÚÇÝíÉ |
ãÔßæÑ Úáì reports |
Desert Mojave Desert Sonoran Desert In this report you will learn about Hot and Dry Deserts and Cold Deserts. I hope you enjoy! A Hot and Dry Desert is, as you can tell from the name, hot and dry. Most Hot and Dry Deserts don't have very many plants. They do have some low down plants though. The only animals they have that can survive have the ability to burrow under ground. This is because they would not be able to live in the hot sun and heat. They only come out in the night when it is a little cooler. A cold desert is a desert that has snow in the winter instead of just dropping a few degrees in temperature like they would in a Hot and Dry Desert. It never gets warm enough for plants to grow. Just maybe a few grasses and mosses. The animals in Cold Deserts also have to burrow but in this case to keep warm, not cool. That is why you might find some of the same animals here as you would in the Hot and Dry Deserts. Deserts cover about one fifth of the Earth's land surface. Most Hot and Dry Deserts are near the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn. Cold Deserts are near the Arctic part of the world. Hot and Dry Deserts temperature ranges from 20 to 25° C. The extreme maximum temperature for Hot Desert ranges from 43.5 to 49° C. Cold Deserts temperature in winter ranges from -2 to 4° C and in the summer 21 to 26° C a year The precipitation in Hot and Dry Deserts and the precipitation in Cold Deserts is different. Hot and Dry Deserts usually have very little rainfall and/or concentrated rainfall in short periods between long rainless periods. This averages out to under 15 cm a year. Cold Deserts usually have lots of snow. They also have rain around spring. This averages out to 15 - 26 cm a year. Hot and Dry Deserts are warm throughout the fall and spring seasons and very hot during the summer. the winters usually have very little if any rainfall. Cold Deserts have quite a bit of snow during winter. The summer and the beginning of the spring are barely warm enough for a few lichens, grasses and mosses to grow. Hot and Dry Deserts vegetation is very rare. Plants are almost all ground-hugging shrubs and short woody trees. All of the leaves are replete (packed with nutrients). Some examples of these kinds of plant are Turpentine Bush, Prickly Pears, and Brittle Bush. For all of these plants to survive they have to have adaptations. Some of the adaptations in this case are the ability to store water for long periods of time and the ability to stand the hot weather. Cold Desert's plants are scattered. In areas with little shade,about 10 percent of the ground is covered with plants. In some areas of sagebrush it reaches 85 percent. The height of scrub varies from 15 cm to 122 cm. All plants are either deciduous and more or less contain spiny leaves. Hot and Dry Deserts animals include small nocturnal (only active at night) carnivores. There are also insects, arachnids, reptiles, and birds. Some examples of these animals are Borrowers, Mourning Wheatears, and Horned Vipers. Cold Deserts have animals like Antelope, Ground Squirrels, Jack Rabbits, and Kangaroo Rats. |
íÓáãææææææææææææææææææææææææææææ åÇáßËÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ æÇßËÑ ÜÜÜÜÑ |
ãÔßæÑÑ ÍÈæÈ Ú ÇáÌåÏ^^ |
it was nice report thanks alot>>>> |
yslmo0o0o brother 3l reports:) |
ÊÓáã Ú ÇáÊÞÇÑíÑ |
Deserts cover about one fifth of the Earth's surface and occur where rainfall is less than 50 cm/year. Although most deserts, such as the Sahara of North Africa and the deserts of the southwestern U.S., Mexico, and Australia, occur at low latitudes, another kind of desert, cold deserts, occur in the basin and range area of Utah and Nevada and in parts of western Asia. Most deserts have a considerable amount of specialized vegetation, as well as specialized vertebrate and invertebrate animals. Soils often have abundant nutrients because they need only water to become very productive and have little or no organic matter. Disturbances are common in the form of occasional fires or cold weather, and sudden, infrequent, but intense rains that cause flooding. There are relatively few large mammals in deserts because most are not capable of storing sufficient water and withstanding the heat. Deserts often provide little $$$$ter from the sun for large animals. The dominant animals of warm deserts are nonmammalian vertebrates, such as reptiles. Mammals are usually small, like the kangaroo mice of North American deserts. Desert biomes can be classified according to several characteristics. There are four major types of deserts: • Hot and dry • Semiarid • Coastal • Cold Hot and dry desert The four major North American deserts of this type are the Chihuahuan, Sonoran, Mojave and Great Basin. Others outside the U.S. include the Southern Asian realm, Neotropical (South and Central America), Ethiopian (Africa) and Australian. The seasons are generally warm throughout the year and very hot in the summer. The winters usually bring little rainfall. From left: Baja, Mexico desert; desert in Uluru National Park, Australia; desert near the Kofa Mountains, Arizona. Temperatures exhibit daily extremes because the atmosphere contains little humidity to block the Sun's rays. Desert surfaces receive a little more than twice the solar radiation received by humid regions and lose almost twice as much heat at night. Many mean annual temperatures range from 20-25° C. The extreme maximum ranges from 43.5-49° C. Minimum temperatures sometimes drop to -18° C. Rainfall is usually very low and/or concentrated in short bursts between long rainless periods. Evaporation rates regularly exceed rainfall rates. Sometimes rain starts falling and evaporates before reaching the ground. Rainfall is lowest on the Atacama Desert of Chile, where it averages less than 1.5 cm. Some years are even rainless. Inland Sahara also receives less than 1.5 cm a year. Rainfall in American deserts is higher — almost 28 cm a year. Soils are course-$$$$ured, shallow, rocky or gravely with good drainage and have no subsurface water. They are coarse because there is less chemical weathering. The finer dust and sand particles are blown elsewhere, leaving heavier pieces behind. Canopy in most deserts is very rare. Plants are mainly ground-hugging shrubs and short woody trees. Leaves are "replete" (fully supported with nutrients) with water-conserving characteristics. They tend to be small, thick and covered with a thick cuticle (outer layer). In the cacti, the leaves are much-reduced (to spines) and photosynthetic activity is restricted to the stems. Some plants open their stomata (microscopic openings in the epidermis of leaves that allow for gas exchange) only at night when evaporation rates are lowest. These plants include: yuccas, ocotillo, turpentine bush, prickly pears, false mesquite, sotol, ephedras, agaves and brittlebush. The animals include small nocturnal (active at night) carnivores. The dominant animals are burrowers and kangaroo rats. There are also insects, arachnids, reptiles and birds. The animals stay inactive in protected hideaways during the hot day and come out to forage at dusk, dawn or at night, when the desert is cooler. Semiarid desert The major deserts of this type include the sagebrush of Utah, Montana and Great Basin. They also include the Nearctic realm (North America, Newfoundland, Greenland, Russia, Europe and northern Asia). The summers are moderately long and dry, and like hot deserts, the winters normally bring low concentrations of rainfall. Summer temperatures usually average between 21-27° C. It normally does not go above 38° C and evening temperatures are cool, at around 10° C. Cool nights help $$$$ plants and animals by reducing moisture loss from transpiration, sweating and breathing. Furthermore, condensation of dew caused by night cooling may equal or exceed the rainfall received by some deserts. As in the hot desert, rainfall is often very low and/or concentrated. The average rainfall ranges from 2-4 cm annually. From left: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, southern Nevada; sagebrush near Bridger, Montana; Castle Valley, Utah, east of Arches National Park. The soil can range from sandy and fine-$$$$ured to loose rock fragments, gravel or sand. It has a fairly low salt concentration, compared to deserts which receive a lot of rain (acquiring higher salt concentrations as a result). In areas such as mountain slopes, the soil is shallow, rocky or gravely with good drainage. In the upper bajada (lower slopes) they are coarse-$$$$ured, rocky, well-drained and partly "laid by rock bench." In the lower bajada (bottom land) the soil is sandy and fine-$$$$ured, often with "caliche hardpan." In each case there is no subsurface water. The spiny nature of many plants in semiarid deserts provides protection in a hazardous environment. The large numbers of spines shade the surface enough to significantly reduce transpiration. The same may be true of the hairs on the woolly desert plants. Many plants have silvery or glossy leaves, allowing them to reflect more radiant energy. These plants often have an unfavorable odor or taste. Semiarid plants include: Creosote bush, bur sage (Franseria dumosa or F. deltoidea), white thorn, cat claw, mesquite, brittle bushes (Encelia farinosa), lyciums, and jujube. During the day, insects move around twigs to stay on the shady side; jack rabbits follow the moving shadow of a cactus or shrub. Naturally, many animals find protection in underground burrows where they are insulated from $$$$ heat and aridity. These animals include mammals such as the kangaroo rats, rabbits, and skunks; insects like grasshoppers and ants; reptiles are represented by lizards and snakes; and birds such as burrowing owls and the California thrasher. Coastal desert These deserts occur in moderately cool to warm areas such as the Nearctic and Neotropical realm. A good example is the Atacama of Chile. The cool winters of coastal deserts are followed by moderately long, warm summers. The average summer temperature ranges from 13-24° C; winter temperatures are 5° C or below. The maximum annual temperature is about 35° C and the minimum is about -4° C. In Chile, the temperature ranges from -2 to 5° C in July and 21-25° C in January. The average rainfall measures 8-13 cm in many areas. The maximum annual precipitation over a long period of years has been 37 cm with a minimum of 5 cm. The soil is fine-$$$$ured with a moderate salt $$$$$$$. It is fairly porous with good drainage. Some plants have extensive root systems close to the surface where they can take advantage of any rain showers. All of the plants with thick and fleshy leaves or stems can take in large quantities of water when it is available and store it for future use. In some plants, the surfaces are corrugated with longitudinal ridges and grooves. When water is available, the stem swells so that the grooves are shallow and the ridges far apart. As the water is used, the stem shrinks so that the grooves are deep and ridges close together. The plants living in this type of desert include the salt bush, buckwheat bush, black bush, rice grass, little leaf horsebrush, black sage, and chrysothamnus. Some animals have specialized adaptations for dealing with the desert heat and lack of water. Some toads seal themselves in burrows with gelatinous secretions and remain inactive for eight or nine months until a heavy rain occurs. Amphibians that pass through larval stages have accelerated life cycles, which improves their chances of reaching maturity before the waters evaporate. Some insects lay eggs that remain dormant until the environmental conditions are suitable for hatching. The fairy shrimps also lay dormant eggs. Other animals include: insects, mammals (coyote and badger), amphibians (toads), birds (great horned owl, golden eagle and the bald eagle), and reptiles (lizards and snakes). Cold desert Lichen growing on Torgerson Island, Antarctica; kangaroo rat. These deserts are characterized by cold winters with snowfall and high overall rainfall throughout the winter and occasionally over the summer. They occur in the Antarctic, Greenland and the Nearctic realm. They have short, moist, and moderately warm summers with fairly long, cold winters. The mean winter temperature is between -2 to 4° C and the mean summer temperature is between 21-26° C. The winters receive quite a bit of snow. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 15-26 cm. Annual precipitation has reached a maximum of 46 cm and a minimum of 9 cm. The heaviest rainfall of the spring is usually in April or May. In some areas, rainfall can be heavy in autumn. The soil is heavy, silty, and salty. It contains alluvial fans where soil is relatively porous and drainage is good so that most of the salt has been leached out. The plants are widely scattered. In areas of shadscale, about 10 percent of the ground is covered, but in some areas of sagebush it approaches 85 percent. Plant heights vary between 15 cm and 122 cm. The main plants are deciduous, most having spiny leaves. Widely distributed animals are jack rabbits, kangaroo rats, kangaroo mice, pocket mice, grasshopper mice, and antelope ground squirrels. In areas like Utah, population density of these animals can range from 14-41 individuals per hectare. All except the jack rabbits are burrowers. The burrowing habit also applies to carnivores like the badger, kit fox, and coyote. Several lizards do some burrowing and moving of soil. Deer are found only in the winter |
First Day of School… The summers over and it’s the night before my first day at Limavady High School. I had been excited all summer about going to school and now its tomorrow I don’t want to go. I’m so nervous; I can’t sleep from thinking about it. What if I don’t make any friends? What if I get lost? I keep tossing and turning and the next thing I knew I was asleep. “Ring”, my alarm went of, it sounded like a billion car alarms going off around me. I tried to ignore it by putting my pillow over my head but then my mum came in and told me to get up and get ready. I finally got up and got dressed, my new uniform looked so strange on me, it made me feel all grown up. As I was walking to the kitchen I could smell cooking drifting down the hall, my mum had made me a special breakfast. I felt so guilty because I could barely eat the delicious food she had prepared especially for me. I was so nervous; it felt like a million butterflies flapping around in my stomach! I tried to avoid everything, putting on my shoes, getting my school bag and took as long as I could walking to the car, just so I didn’t have to go to school. On the drive to school I saw lots of people wearing the same uniform as me and I couldn’t help but think will I get on with the other pupils. I got more nervous; I felt like jelly and was really warm, the closer we got to the school the worse I got. Then I looked and all I could see was LIMAVADY HIGH SCHOOL in big yellow writing! I got out and walked in all alone. The walk to the school felt like a million miles, my legs felt like jelly and I just wanted to run back to the car. I kept staring back over my shoulder at my dad, and then I heard the car start and he drove off and left me all alone to face this new place all by myself. I felt so alone with no one to turn to. “Jayne,” was all I heard going in the school gate. It was my best mate Vicky. It made me jump up with a big smile, but I was still nervous. I was scared no one would like me or the teachers would hate me. We walked on in anyway; I felt better having a friend with me. She seemed excited and hyper when I was nervous and scared. So many thoughts and worries were running around my head, am I the only one who is feeling this way? Why was she excited? Why isn’t she scared like me, is there something wrong with me? Everyone was dashing past me, they all seemed to know where they were going. Was it just me who was lost and alone? I heard someone shout on Vicky and suddenly she was gone, I was alone again and getting worried. I had no idea where to go. A teacher came over to me, didn’t no what to do or what she was going to say. He told me where I was suppose to be, he must of new I didn’t understand what to do, so he walked down with me to the assembly hall. I went into the assembly hall feeling really silly, everyone seemed to be with someone and chatting and laughing, I was sitting all by myself; I stood out like a sore thumb. The headmaster came and welcomed us all, everyone had been talking and when he walked in it was went quiet. I saw Vicky she stood out in the sea of faces to me because she was the one person I wanted to be with, so I rushed over to her and sat beside her, I crossed my fingers and hoped to be in her class and… I was there was a lot of people in my class, they all had big smiles and no one looked lost or worried like me. The day went so fast, I met lots of new people, did lots of new things and my class was the nicest bunch of people I’d ever met. We walked in a big group to each different class and met some of our new teachers. At lunch some of my new friends and I sat together and talked about our old schools. “Ding”, the bell went, it was 3.20 already and I had a brilliant day. I still feel alone and I don’t know why, everyone’s so nice and happy, I hope tomorrow goes as well as today. |
The Gift All my life I had always wanted a friend who I could have all to myself. Someone who would always devote all of their attention to me. It wasn’t until my sixth birthday that I found such a friend. I spotted him in a large metal cage in the cat room lying on his back, drooling. He grinned, as only a cat can, exposing his toothless gums and cat food breath to all as he uttered a pathetic “meow”. I was immensely impressed with this orange heap of fur that rubbed against the cage and I neared the fascinating creature in an attempt to make friends. I was afraid that somehow he would sense my anxiousness about how incredibly marvellous he appeared to be even though he was obviously lacking in traditional cat beauty. Bright green eyes stared into my small blue ones and begged for a touch, just one touch, like a death row inmate wishing for letters from anyone, just anyone to pass the time. My hand neared his head which I soon found out was dirty and oily from being neglected and I gently pressed my fingers between his striped ears. Purring, he squirmed for more, rubbing his head back and forth against the cage bars and “meowing” when I would stop for even a second. He was unlike the other cats in the cat room that day, a unique face and eyes like a lion, staring me down. The other cats just played blissfully, unaware that I held the key to their freedom. This cat knew, he knew that the people who came in and out of his room everyday were not just there to pet his head in between glances at the other cats with whom he shared his space with. He somehow knew that I was there for a purpose and he wanted to be that purpose. I let my eyes wonder to the other cats, young and old, that occupied the other kennels in the cat room but none of them even compared to the old, ragged bundle of joy that I had come across. This orange cat was different, he watched me fixatedly as I sauntered from cage to cage, eyeing up every cat that I touched. I just knew he was the one and that he would be the best birthday present I would ever receive. Money can’t buy friendship, or so they say. Although how else was I to get this creature into my arms if I didn’t buy him first, we couldn’t be friends through a cage. He seemed to belong on the great plains of Africa stalking Impala with a pride of lions, not trapped between bars in an enclosure so small that it could only have been fit for a mouse. Although I couldn’t give him Africa I could at least give him an area larger then a cage to claim as his own and fifteen pounds could do just that. I immediately raced over to my mother, ecstatic that I had found a friend so perfect in every way that all my other friends had been swept aside in my search for a soul mate. My mother seeing the smile which broadened across my whole face handed over the money that I needed in order to purchase this lonesome creature. I raced over to the the counter in the main entrance to the shelter without a second thought and quickly shuffled my new found friend into my mother’s car. While driving down the M4 and into London I ordered my mother to drive slowly, careful not to upset my companion who occupied the passenger seat in a sturdy cardboard carrier. After spending what had seemed like a lot longer than an hour travelling, we finally arrived home and as soon as his box had been opened he peaked out at his new surroundings, sniffing the air, then looking at me as if he was unsure of this new and exciting place. I mixed him up a plate of food in hope of offering a gesture of friendship and placed it on the floor near him. He made a few circles around the plate and several sniffs later he tucked into his first meal at home. I now felt that he was officially part of the family. Sharing our days together is one of my most vivid childhood memories. With this friend there were no complaints about the world and its problems or arguments about what radio stations to listen to, just complete enjoyment of each others company, the whole purpose for friendship, without a single word. Regrettably, some day all friendships have to come to an end however strong they are. Unfortunately for me our friendship ended exactly five years after it had first begun, on my eleventh birthday. I came home from school one day to find my mother wasn’t there to meet me. I remember thinking that it was incredibly impolite of her to desert me on such a special day. It wasn’t until she returned home a couple of hours later that I found out she had spent the day at the vets and that my cuddly, fluffy friend had tragically passed away. Sadly I have never been able to find a cat that could replace him. All the other pets that I have looked at over the past four years haven’t even compared to him. Perhaps in the distant future I will be able to find a cat which possesses similar qualities. He may not have been the cutest or the most adorable pet at the animal shelter that day but I certainly couldn’t have chosen a cat more perfect than him. |
Report comparing the costs of purchasing a holiday online with the costs of purchase from a brochure. Table of contents Table of contents 1 Introduction. 1 Findings 1 Online quotes 1 Brochure Quotes 2 Prices for staying in Dubai 2 Analysis of table and graph. 2 Possible trips to attractions 3 Conclusion and Recommendation. 5 Introduction I have been asked to produce a report to investigate whether it is cheaper to purchase a college trip online or from a brochure. To carry out this investigation I have decided to look at holidays in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The investigation will look at a trip commencing 1st December staying three nights in the following categories of hotel: Budget holiday staying in a three star hotel Value holiday staying in a five star hotel Premium holiday staying in a seven star hotel The brochure holidays will be inclusive of both hotel and flight costs. For the online holiday I will look at separate flight and hotels in order to save the most money. Findings To find the information for my report I used a search engine (Google) to get flight and hotel quotes. I then used a travel agents brochure to find costs of a package holiday. I also researched possible attractions using both the brochure and the Internet to find information. Online quotes My online flight quote was provided by Book cheap flights, hotels, car rental, city breaks and package holidays with Opodo and the following table shows the travel details: Departure / Time Arrival / Time Date Airline London Heathrow, 08:30 Dubai, 10:10 01/11/2007 British Airways Dubai, 08:50 London Heathrow, 3:15 04/11/2007 British Airways My hotel quotes were all taken from www.expedia.co.uk. The hotels I chose were: Highland hotel (three star) Kempinski mall of the emirates (five star) Burj al Arab (seven star) Brochure Quotes The quotes for three night holidays are all from the Cresta holiday’s brochure. I chose the following hotels for comparison: Regent Beach Resort (three star) Le meridien mina seyahi beach resort and marina (four star) Palm tree court and spa (five star) Prices for staying in Dubai The following table illustrates the costs per person for staying in these hotels: Type of Travel Cost per person (£) Three star Five Star Seven Star Average Online Flight £323.30 £323.30 £323.30 £323.30 Online Hotel £95.45 £235.83 £502.45 £277.91 Total Online £418.75 £559.13 £825.75 £601.21 Brochure (hotel & flight) £556.00 £778.00 £975.00 £769.67 The following graph illustrates the difference in price between the holiday booked online and the brochure package: Analysis of table and graph The average cost of the trip booked online was £531.61 while the average for the brochure holiday is £703. The results suggest that a holiday in Dubai is cheaper if booked online. The graph shows that a brochure holiday is more expensive than booking online for every category of hotel. Possible trips to attractions Dubai is a city with many historical places of interest. It also has a reputation as a business venue being home to some of the world’s most prosperous businesses and firms. The following are two attractions I would recommend seeing: The Dubai Museum Al-Fahidi Fort, built in 1800, is home to the Dubai Museum, and is thought to be Dubai's oldest building. In the past the fort was used to defend the town from warlike neighbouring tribes. It has also served, at various times throughout history as the seat of government, the ruler's residence, a store for ammunition, and a jail. The walls of the fort are built from coral and shell rubble from the sea, and are cemented together with lime. Wooden poles called Handel support the upper floor, and the ceiling is made of palm fronds, mud and plaster. A massive, iron-studded door stands at the entrance, and its battle-scarred walls and towers bear witness to the conflicts of the past. When the Museum was opened by the ruler of Dubai in 1971, its main aim was to furnish a record of the Emirate's traditional life, much of which is fast disappearing. Local antiquities have been collected and stored, along with artefacts from many African and Asian countries, trading partners with the Emirate, throughout its long commercial history. At the Museum's entrance, the visitor can browse through a collection of old maps of the Gulf and the Emirates, together with aerial photographs showing Dubai's considerable urban expansion between 1960 and 1980. Inside, a treasure trove awaits. A large section is devoted to musical instruments, with displays of drums, flutes, lyres, bagpipes made of goatskin and other locally-made instruments used in performances on festive occasions. On a less peaceful note, displays of deadly weaponry are enough to curdle the blood. The curved daggers known as hanjars are much in evidence, and the display also includes swords, spears, bows and arrows, shields made of sharkskin, pistols and axes. A model of a wind-tower room is an interesting feature of the architecture section, with diagrams and photographs showing different types of wind-towers from the older areas of Dubai city. Narish Khyma, situated close to the Museum, is a typical Arab summerhouse, with an interesting collection of local boats. These include a replica of the famous abra -- the ferryboats used for transporting passengers across Dubai's river creek. The Grand Mosque Located at the Bur Side of Dubai Creek, Grand Mosque, offers the blissfulness of traditional Islamic architectural style with which the Mosque is built. Grand Mosque was built in 1900 A.D. as a Quranic School (kutab in Arabic), which was similar to present day madrasas, where children are taught Quran and Muslim religious principles. The Mosque was rebuilt to enhance its capacity to accommodate worshippers, which at present stands at 1200 devotees in total. With a minaret as high as 70 meters, the tallest in Dubai, Grand Mosque is considered as one of the most spacious mosques in UAE. Permission to enter the Mosque is exclusively provided to Muslims. But if you are a non-Muslim and are attracted by the artistic and cultural magnificence of the Mosque, you'll be granted permission to take pictures of the tall minaret, splendidly designed walls, luminous domes and marvellous glass panels and antique window shutters from the premises of the Mosque. The mosque carries 54 domes, in which 45 are small and 9 large. Grand Mosque along Al Mussalla Road, near Ruler's Court, Dubai, is also known as Al-Jumeriah Mosque and is also the most photographed building in Dubai. The most striking feature of all Islamic architecture has been identified as the one which focuses more on the interior space than on the outside or facade. Traditional Islamic art and architecture has its roots in 7th-century Syrian culture from where it widened its scope to include the art and architecture from regions as far as Atlantic and South Asia. According to experts, when Traditional Islamic Architecture is considered from the point of view of the then architects, there is nothing Islamic in their work, nor is there a dominant style which can be delineated from Islamic Art. Regional variations are innumerous and diversified, the unifying principles being the existence of geometric design and arabesque styles. Conclusion and Recommendation The results suggest that the college would save money if it booked trips online. For every category of hotel the online trip was cheaper. The reason for this difference could be the convenience of booking a package holiday from a brochure. Despite the convenience of booking a brochure holiday there is a large cost saving from planning the trip yourself and I would recommend that the college books its own trips online. |
Dubai is the dreamiest place I’ve ever been to. With an over populated population, not less than 1.3 million, you still don’t get annoyed by the crowds. My first ‘actual’ visit was during the Christmas holidays. Wanting to escape from the cold miserable winter, back in the U.K., to the warm welcoming weather in Dubai. I have been told that the best month for Dubai is between November and February, which in actual fact is true. However during the summer the temperature could reach up to 48°C, which isn’t that bad as every where you go you would find an air conditioner, which would tend to have very cold air .To my surprise, Dubai being an Islamic country it isn’t very strict. Seeing how magnificent Dubai’s airport is, I wanted to see what the country would be like. From my experience of travelling, one of the best airports I’ve ever been to is Dubai Airport. With its large comforting lounges and delicious cafes and the best shops you could find. These facilities were only some of the things I saw during my 1-2 hour stay for transmits. As soon as I exited the airport I was amazed from how the city was very clean. I was in a yellow taxi, sitting all quiet and excited going to my hotel “Mina Al Salaam”. Quarter way I asked the driver to go on a sightseeing tour as I was already seeing half of the city. Going around Dubai seeing different sizes of buildings and different shapes, I was amazed by seeing so many malls around. The one that caught my eye was Mall Of The Emirates. “The biggest mall in Dubai and Asia.” said the taxi driver. Coming back from the other end of Dubai heading towards my hotel I saw the beach. There were a lot of people just relaxing and tanning, but it was just wonderful gazing at the sandy golden sand and the crystal like sea water with the sun setting. I asked if I could go down for one minute just to take a picture of the view. The driver was so friendly and didn’t mind at all. I got my picture taken with Burj Al Arab behind me. This building is the best hotel in the world as well as the biggest hotel in water. I read it in the Guinness World Records. When I arrived at the ho tel I was just exhausted! The hotel I stayed in was just WOW! It had beautiful marble floors and very artistic paintings and a wonderful lobby with excellent service. As soon as I got to my sea view bedroom I unpacked my bag and went straight away to the Spa, to relax. The next couple of days I just stayed on the beach relaxing and swimming in the pools of the hotel. After my couple of days relaxing I went on a 2 day safari in the desert with a tour called “Arabian tours”. We went dune bashing and sand boarding and for the first time in my life I rode on a camel. During Sunset they took me and my group to the place where we were going to camp and there was a wonderful dinner buffet with a belly dancer and an Oud player for entertainment. After the amazing two night stay in the dessert returning to the hotel it was time for me to say good bye to Dubai as it was time for me to go back to the U.K., I enjoyed my stay in Dubai and I wish I could come and visit again next holiday. As Arabic emirates would say “Maa Salamah”, which means good bye. |
My trip to Saudi Arabia It was 1 week before I got to know I was going saudia Arabia. My parents asked me if I wanted to go my heart was saying yes but my mind was saying no. I go to my parent’s ill think about it that night I was thinking I don’t want 2 go yet I am not ready. Had a dream that night I was in saudia Arabia, in front of the khaba (god’s house), I was praying in front of it I was so happy to be there. I was with my cousin asma go Aqeel its so good to be here isn’t it he was saying yeah mash Allah its wonderful then suddenly I hear a big “bang” noise going “wake up wake up” it was my mum screaming from down stairs. I got up, I was thinking oh my god my dream was so lovely I ran down stairs I told my mum straight away I wanted to go saudia arabia she was so happy she gave me a hug and goes I am so glad you are going she goes your going to love it when your there. I was really excited to go, because my cousin Aqeel and Harun where going to go aswell so it was good cause I would have had company. We phoned my uncle that I was going he booked the tickets. Four days later that night every one was at my house because we had a family reunion, we were so excited to go we was chatting about how it was going to be? What the people are going to be like? How the atmosphere is going to be like? we couldn’t get over it we was so excited, also we found out that we was going to stop at Dubai that got us even more excited cause we have never seen Dubai before. It was about 11.00 o’clock every one start going home all ma family gave me £20 pound each cause they was so happy to see me going to my gods house every one went home. I was really excited I went upstairs and went to sleep I first put my alarm for 4 0 clock in the morning, our flight was for 8 o clock I went to sleep I had a lovely dream I was just half way threw my dream and my alarm goes off it was 4 o clock I was so excited every one came to my house, then we went to my nans house to say goodbye to everyone then we was set off to our journey to the airport. We got to the airport it was about 5.30 we parked the car, and we went to put our bags threw the checking area all our bags went threw. Then we went to eat breakfast at mc Donald’s our parents phoned us telling us we have to go 2 check our tickets. We went to our parents we said goodbye to then, we checked our self and we went straight threw we waved our byes and our parents went we finally was in duty free oh my god it was so amazing the atmosphere was amazing every body was shopping it was me my uncle ma aunty her 2 kids and her mum it was 7 of us. I asked my uncle if we could shop around he goes shop as much as u want but you have only got 3 hours to do shopping but he goes there is no point he goes when You come back do the shopping then we said were going to look around he goes meet us at gate number 16 we go ok.Me my 2 cousins were so excited we went around the shops I go to my cousins look at theses lacoste trainers they were really nice, I really wanted to buy them my uncle goes buy them when you come back. Then we had to set to the flight we was about to step threw the airplane and me and my cousin got excited cause we haven’t sat in an airplane since 4 years, so we went threw the plane on my right there was three seats, in the middle there was four, and on my left there was three. Me and my cousins sat together and my uncle and the rest sat together, the flight was just about to lift off all my cousins were scared for the flight to lift of but it was amazing for me, because I really like when flights lift if it feels like I am lifting off the earth. The flight lifted off there was an announcement after 15 minutes. The air hostesses came round giving hot towels to wipe our faces the journey was about 12 hours we all fell asleep. I wake up and we had to get off the airplane, I looked out side the airplane and they announced that we was at Dubai me and my cousins looked at each other we was really excited, but the temperature was 45°.We got off the plane we freshened up and we went to ask the emirates desk manager if we could go out of the airport we went and spoke to them they go “yes sure you can go but they said that we could eat aswell in inside the airport because they said they provided it for us” We went to look for the place we had to eat we looked everywhere we couldn’t find it then we asked some one they told us where it was we went towards it the atmosphere was so busy every one was enjoying them self. We went and sat on the table they told us it was a buffet me and my cousins went crazy because the food smelt nice it was gorgeous we eat up and it was about 8 in the evening, our flight was for 12 o’clock. I asked my uncle if we could go to shop in the airport he goes ok.me and my cousins went it was so amazing we went in to shops and we tried sprays on it was such a laugh we enjoyed it so much. It was about 11.30 they announced “the passengers on emirates flight please come to your desk“we went to meet our uncle and we had to catch our flights, we went back and sat on the plane the plane was empty this time so we all had our own rows of seats it was so good cause we had three hours till we got to madina we all were praying from the plane to madina. We was about to land the plane was landing and the noise was like a cat scrapping his claws against the floor it gave me the shivers. We got off the plain we were at madina airport we had to get the coach to get to madina. We got the coach and the journey was about twenty minutes. We got to medina hotel and freshened up had a shower and was now ready to enter the holy mosque I couldn’t wait to see the mosque at 1st site it is said that if u make a prayer when you see the mosque at first site your prayer comes true it was beautiful there aren’t words to explain the feeling you have when u see the holy mosque from the inside and the house of Allah I sat in the mosque for approximately 4 hours that day before we went back to our hotels it was a long tiring day I had the best sleep ever. The next morning I woke up I was ready to go to the mosque again and pray. We also done a small pilgrimage witch was done by our prophet (pbuh) witch was a good experience. The weather there was hot very hot at times it would reach nearly 50c but inside the mosque the air conditioning was so good it felt like I was still in Britain, we also climbed up a mountain the same mountain our prophet Mohammed (pbuh) climbed when he was chased by the non believers there is a cave on top of the mountain were the prophet (pbuh) hid it was beautiful to see things like that and the view was also beautiful. We mostly prayed in the mosque and made short pilgrimages I enjoyed it a lot it was a good experience for me we had to days left to leave I was kind of missing home now but I didn’t want to leave either and I was in the holy mosque right next to Allah’s house there is a black stone in one of the corners of gods house and it is said that whoever kisses the black stone there sins will b forgiven I tried my best that day to kiss the black stone and eventually I did it isn’t easy trying to kiss the stone for there is many people there trying to kiss many people die during hajj because they try and kiss the black stone and get crushed because there is so many people there, but I was happy though I got to kiss it and was looking forward to going home now it was our last day at madina I took many photos of the place so I could look back one day and say I was there. As we left for the airport I stared out the coach window looking at the beautiful scenery and the big palm trees, we reached the airport and was through the hassle of getting into the plane quite quickly the plane took off and this time I wasn’t quite bothered about the flight I exited to see my family and friends again so I can tell them what an experience I had. I slept most the flight and were jus landing into Heathrow airport I ran off the plane in joy we entered the terminal and it felt good to be back home we collected our luggage and went for the exit there I saw my parents waiting for us to pick us up I hugged them in joy we all left the airport quickly so we could get home in time for dinner I told my mum and dad the whole experience on the way back from the airport I loved it. |
Internet Penetration Identify the different levels of household penetration by the World Wide Web in each of the following continents – Asia , Africa , North America , South America and Australia . Explore the reasons for this variation. The countries with the highest internet penetration are predominately those Western economies with strong economies and high levels of affluence. Out of the top 10 countries, European countries feature 6 times, with Sweden having the highest penetration at 73.6% of the population have the internet. Other high ranking countries include Hong Kong (70.7%), The United States of America (USA) (68.5%), Australia (67.2%), Canada (63.8%), Korea (63.3%), Japan (60.9%), Taiwan (60.5%), Singapore (60.2%) and New Zealand (56.8%). The United Kingdom compares well at 60%. (Appendix 2 Internet world stats, 2005) World wide, these 25 countries dominate over 64% of their total population; the internet penetration in the rest of the world is just 7.8% of the remaining population. However, percentages can be misleading; whilst they give a good indication of levels of literacy, affluence and behaviour, the percentage of penetration would not give an indication of size of possible market; the USA has the largest market at 202,888,307; the next largest being Japan at 78,050,000 and then the UK and German markets at 35,807,929 and 47,127,725 respectively. Whilst we have seen then that internet penetration is very strong in these affluent societies, there are some interesting developments in the emerging economies. Those countries in Asia that have traditionally had under developed economies, such as China and India , have very different levels of internet penetration; despite both countries attempting to develop their economic wealth. China , with a population of 1,306,313,812 has 94 million internet users (Appendix 1); this however translates to only 7.2% of the population. The Chinese middle class is only 4% of the population i.e. those who have household incomes of more than $20,000 but that translates into a market or 50 million people (Khanna, T) – a huge market for prospective investors in the country. This compares very favourably with internet penetration in India – where the population is very similar to China 's - 1,080,264,388.00 but there are only 18, 481,000 internet users, a penetration of 1.71% of the population. This may be due to Government intervention in China ; in a recent report ‘it has been found that China has nurtured and directed the economy ( Khanna, T 2005). In addition there is a difference in the GDP per capita – in China , the GDP per capita is $5,600, whereas in India it is only $3,100. However, in both countries there is a huge gap between the wealthiest and poorest people, both in India and China , over 30% of household consumption is carried out by the 10% wealthiest people. (World Fact Book, 2004) Internet penetration in Africa shows a similar picture – where the economies are good, there is high internet penetration, such as in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the percentage of internet users is very high – over 43%, The UAE has a very successful and open economy with a very high GDP per capita ($25,200). This contrasts dramatically with the sub Saharan countries such as Malawi . Malawi is one of the least developed countries in the world; the internet penetration is 0.3% of the population; in South Africa where over 50% of the population below the poverty line internet penetration in South Africa is still only 0.7%, despite there being some very wealthy people. (Appendix 1 World fact book 2004) The other area of the world where there is little internet penetration is in South America , although there are country wide differences relating to the economic success of individual countries. Much of the South American countries have troubled economies and large numbers of the population below the poverty line. There are some variations, for example, the internet penetration in Chile is 22%; they have a GDP per capita at $10,700, in Ecuador the internet penetration is 4.26%; here the GDP per capita is only $3,700. Discuss the implications this has for international marketing for companies with global reach. You may choose to illustrate your answers by reference to a single company. ‘The Internet provides a more direct route to customers and provides a means of reaching huge new audiences and enabling the provision of vast amounts of information.' (Fill p. 438) He goes onto to explain the benefits of an internet presence – reduced transaction costs, opportunities for growth and innovation, improved competitive position, encouragement of cooperative behaviour, enhanced communication with customers, improved information about customers, enhanced reputation and image, enhanced measurement and evaluation of customer interaction and improved customer service. Thus it can be seen then that the implications of increased internet penetration for firms with a global reach are enormous in terms of increased competitive position, an opportunity for increased market share and increased service that can be offered to the customer. The internet is especially advantageous for small firms wanting to market internationally; the net is open for 24 hours per day and can be accessed from anywhere. Blythe has found that ‘small firms do not need to establish a presence in the country to which they hope to export, nor do they have to employ international sales staff nor worry about the exchange rates' (p.227). Hamil and Gregory, (1997) found that smaller organisations view the internet as a tool to enable them to develop network communications, sales promotion and market intelligence activities. Luk et al (2002) suggest that the internet can be used to create awareness of the firm and its products, build general publicity and contribute to corporate image building programmes . In addition, they have found that the internet can play a large part in helping to market products by showing on-line catalogues and by providing detailed product information. This view has been echoed by Berthon et al (1998), they suggest that the website is something of a mix between direct selling and advertising. They compare the web to a trade show – a large exhibition hall where potential buyers can enter at will and visit exhibitions. It is acknowledged then that the web has an important role for those companies wishing to extend their global reach, in terms of creating awareness of their offer. In addition to the benefits that having an internet presence may bring to a firm, having an understanding of the penetration of the internet gives firms an understanding of the size of the market for online transactions in foreign countries. For those ‘click ‘firms (those with no other sales/distribution channel such as www. Amazon.com) this will be a very important consideration. Amazon currently operates seven country-based websites in the USA , Canada , the UK , France , Germany , China and Japan . (taken from MIntel company profile, 2005) An understanding of the size of the market combined with other environmental factors such as the GDP and the GDP per capita will enable a firm to make a more informed decision about foreign investment. An analysis of consumer behaviour in the firm's home market may assist firms in making assumptions about consumer behaviour in foreign markets; e.g. those countries with similar penetration to the UK may have similar characteristics to consumers in the UK . Research carried out in the UK by Mintel, has found that use of the internet tends to be biased towards the young and affluent. These findings are echoed in the USA . (Taylor, H 2002) Firms wishing to move into those markets with high penetration may find it easier to communicate to consumers of known characteristics. In addition to being a promotional tool, the internet is also a huge distribution channel; Amazon.com was founded in 1995 when its founder, Jeff Bezos, discovered that the internet was growing at 2300% and realised that this was a tremendous medium through which to sell products to consumers. He compares e-tailing to traditional bricks and mortar retailing in this way: ‘real estate is the key cost for physical retailers, real estate gets more and more expensive every year and technology gets cheaper every year and it gets cheaper fast' (cited in Krishnamurthy 1998). Mintel have reported that ‘ Online purchasing of gifts increased significantly in 2004. Some 26% of the sample shopped online before Christmas 2004, compared to 12% in the previous year.' It can be seen then that the an understanding of the penetration of the internet is very important for international marketing purposes for those companies with global reach, especially in terms of creating awareness of the firm's offer. The degree of penetration of the internet also has implications in terms of market share, an indication of the affluence of the population and the firm's ability to reach the market. Critically evaluate the role and limitations of the internet as a distribution and promotional channel. What are the operational implications of selling through the internet. ‘The internet provides marketers and consumers with opportunities for much greater interaction and individualisation.' (Kotler, 2005, p. 612) ‘The internet provides a wide variety of activities that are helping to transform the way we think about marketing communications but is also impacting on business strategy, marketing channel structure, inter-organisational relationships and the configuration of the marketing communications mix. The internet impacts upon marketing in two ways, distribution and communications.'(Fill, p 437). The ability of the internet to dramatically change the way organisations can do business is quite apparent. Chaston and Mangles (2002) have found that a feature of the internet that is of critical interest to marketers is the interactivity of the medium. They have also found that the internet provides both a promotional medium and an alternative channel through which to sell and deliver the product. In terms as a promotional channel, Fill maintains that the ‘pace at which technology has advanced over the past decade has had a tremendous impact upon advertisers, media owners, marketing research, advertising and newly born agencies. The principal effect has been to fragment the audience in such a way that targets can be more easily defined and reached with pinpoint accuracy.' (p.225) As a result of this fragmentation there is much more emphasis being placed on sales promotion at the expense of mass advertising. Many firms are developing integrated marketing communications which are based on a more ‘personalised, customer orientated and technology driven approach' (Fill, p 458) As a distribution channel, many new companies have come into existence e.g. Amazon.com, Dab.com; Expedia.com; google.com to name a few; most traditional retailers now have a presence on the internet in addition to manufacturers and direct marketers. Moreover, traditional markets such as the CD retail market have almost disappeared; traditional retailers have had to make the retail experience much more exciting as more consumers purchase their everyday goods on line. However, Mintel has found that ‘ It is much harder for niche high street retailers to achieve critical mass online. So it is unsurprising that the non-food store retailers that have started to build genuine online scale are larger mixed goods retailers such as John Lewis, M&S, Debenhams, Argos, and Woolworths, as well as Dixons and Comet in the electrical sector.' (2005 ) Blythe has identified four characteristics of the internet as a marketing tool: Communication style – the style is interactive and synchronous ( happens immediately) or asynchronous ( there is significant time delays between message and response, such as when you are invited to email for more information and there are insufficient resources to reply immediately) Social presence – the feeling that communications are taking place at a personal level; this is particularly so if the communications are synchronous Consumer control of contact – because consumers control the time and place of contact, they are more willing to participate in the process of getting information from the machine. They may be more likely to give out information about themselves, a useful way of gathering market information Consumer control of content – if consumers can control the message, the communication becomes truly interactive. A consumer can skip links and move onto another page; or an email address allows consumers to ask specific questions and tailor the communications even more. (P. 229) Amazon have found that ‘in the online world, businesses have the opportunity to develop very deep relationships with customers, both through accepting preferences of customers and then observing their purchase behaviour over time….if you can do that, then the customers are going to feel a deep loyalty to us, because we know them so well.' It is this change in power of customers and higher expectations that pose limitations for some online retailers. Schulz and Schulz (1998) refer to this two way conversation and the change to the customer having the power in the relationship as opposed to the retailer, as the third phase in marketing; initially the manufacturers held the power; in the 20 th Century it has been the retailer; they maintain that in the 21 st Century, there will be consumer domination in the market place brought about by the increasing use of technology especially the internet. Internet based marketing is usually based around a website; the challenge for firms wanting to use the internet as a sales channel is to attract them to the website and then keep them coming back. The design of the website and its ease of use are very important considerations; badly designed websites will do more damage than no web site at all. Ecommerce for Dummies (2001) suggests that some following strategies will be successful when entering into the world of ecommerce – ‘Hook ‘em – make sure your website works when you very first go online; make your business a household name; be prepared for success (ie be able to distribute more than you expected), calculate internet time – things change much more rapidly on the internet and get to know your neighbours – i.e. your suppliers and all those in the supply chain. It is vital that they can they all meet your customers demands.' ( Home - For Dummies ) News travels much faster on the internet; internet users visit chat rooms, compare notes on products and services and have developed ‘blogs' – ( internet journals or logbooks, which can do great harm to a firm who does not meet the visitor's satisfaction criteria). Kotler has identified that the internet has given consumers increased buying power (the ability to easily compare prices and goods), a great variety and availability of goods and services, a greater amount of information and an expectation of ease with interacting, placing and receiving orders in addition to this ability to compare notes. (p.11). This puts tremendous pressure on distributors both on and off line. There are four stages of internet utilisation – low involvement which just has a web site presence and then encourages visitors to visit the shop; medium involvement where visitors can interrogation via email and register for more information. High interaction – buy on line and we will deliver; this is where a strong two way communication is established allowing interaction with the customer; the most involved utilisation is where all business processes are embedded in the web. This process is very important; it is situations where the processes are not embedded in the web where opportunities for customer disatisfaction can occur. Guido (2005) describes an incident where, although he had paid his subscription for insurance on line, the business processes did not identify that and he was sent a final demand. Guido advises firms to do four things – think customer service; think life style communications, email should always be relevant, personalised and timely; build strategic life cycle email communications with customers and build value. Finally he advises that firms should build integrated communications and messaging across the customer profile; ‘connect your CRM communications so you have a universal view of how your customer touches your brand. Mint e l's consumer research shows that 22% of consumers would shop more from home (including the Internet) if the offer came from a retailer they could trust. This suggests to us that there is real scope for store-based retailers to use their loyal customer base to build a distance selling business. (Mintel, Home Shopping 2005). It can be seen then that one of the operational tasks is how to reassure customers that their financial details are safe. Morrison and Firmstone (2000) found that those firms who had facilities that customers could trust and who deliberately managed to reduce risk will be differentiated as a superior offering. Many websites inform customers that they are about to go into a secure site; once a purchase is made, they ask customers to repeat their password; on the Amazon site, only the last 4 digits of the credit card are shown and only shown when they are convinced it is the correct customer visiting their personalised page. Ebay and Amazon rate their sellers for reliability and integrity and follow up any transactions for evaluation purposes. Another operational implication is in ensuring that the expectation that the order will be fulfilled. Fill has found that due to the ease with which customers can order and pay for goods, their expectations for quick delivery are higher than normal, ‘unless the whole fulfillment process is compatible, the whole of the investment at the front end will be wasted' (p. 450). Fill suggests that one way to reassure customers is to confirm their order by email and to email the delivery arrangements. Dell telephone or email customers to arrange a time when they will be at home to take delivery of their computers and will arrange for delivery to be in the evening if that is most convenient. Where distribution and warehousing has been outsourced, it is imperative that the firm can rely on the service. It has been identified that most users of the internet are well educated and in SEG groups AB and C1.(MIntel a) Those shoppers are very demanding, well informed and articulate; seekers on the internet are normally there for a reason, i.e. they ‘generally exhibit goal-directed behaviour ' (Fill, p448) If this is satisfied people are more likely to return, if nit they are likely to tell many people. The problem described earlier where the insurance form had not connected an online payment with a due date would be resolved if the company had ensured that ‘the management of all networked communities is effective to ensure optimum usage and the development of suitable relationships.' (Bickerton et al). Since its establishment, Amazon has focused its strategy on customer satisfaction rather than on maximising profits like most pure online retailers. The ‘dot com bust' which saw numerous newly created e-commerce retailers go out of business since the second half of 2000, led many online companies to try and break-even as soon as possible, in an attempt to prove that they had a viable business plan. Amazon has consistently run a customer-centric business model over the years, investing heavily in storage and distribution, as well as improving the customer experience by introducing innovative features such as the 1-click ordering system, customer product reviews and operating a ‘no-questions asked' 30-day return policy. The group's investment in customer satisfaction seems to have paid off and despite suffering heavy losses in its first seven years of operation it managed to break even in 2002, while it tripled its profit margins in 2003.' (Mintel,2005). The internet has brought about dramatic changes to the way business is carried out; moreover penetration is increasing rapidly, especially in the emerging economies. As a promotional tool, marketers have had to consider different tactics in attracting and maintaining visitors and thereby increasing their ability to meet their customers' needs. The internet offer a cheaper channel for the distribution of goods, particularly those that are easy to transport, have little purchase involvement or risk or services such as travel where there are price benefits to the consumer. However, the internet has shifted the power from the supplier to the buyer, which will have an increasingly far reaching impact for traditional suppliers. There have been several casualties since the inception of the internet; in order to succeed firms have had to consider several operational tasks namely fraud security, delivery reliability and speed and stringent processes that ensure connectivity of all communications and transactions with the customers |
Some Muslim world wedding customs India and Pakistan In the Indian subcontinent, a marriage is reserved to three days of customs and traditions. The Mehndi is the event where you put henna on the bride and groom's hands. Marked by traditional songs and dances, it sometimes extends to two days - one day over at the groom's place to put henna on his hand and the second day over at the bride's house to put henna on hers. The actual Nikah is called a Shadi, which is traditionally done by the bride's side. This is the signing of official paperwork in the presence of an Imam. After signing these papers and doing some religious ceremony, the couple is declared husband and wife. To celebrate, guests eat of the many lavish dishes that are served. To announce the marriage officially the Walima takes place as a feast given by the groom's family. Both husband and wife welcome the guests and mingle with them while people eat dinner. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) As a tradition in the UAE, the setting of the wedding date marks the beginning of the bride's preparation for her wedding. Although the groom is also put through a series of preparations, the bride's are more elaborate and time consuming. She is lavished with all sorts of traditional oils and perfumes from head to toe. Traditionally, she is not seen for forty days by anyone except for family members as she rests at home in preparation for her wedding day. During the week which precedes the wedding, traditional music, continuous singing and dancing take place, reflecting the joy shared by the bride and the groom's families. Laylat Al Henna (literally, the night of the henna), which takes place a few days before, is very special night for the bride, since it is a ladies' night only. On this night, the bride's hands and feet are decorated with henna. The back-to-back feasts and celebrations involve both men and women who usually celebrate separately. ( Sound Vision Foundation) Egypt Egypt has been exposed to many civilizations, such as the Greek, Roman and Islamic ones. The marriage customs of Egyptians make it easy for a couple to get to know one another, for the families meet often. It starts by the suitor's parents visiting his fiancee's house to get her family approval to complete the marriage and reaching an agreement, which contains two main items: an amount of money, called Mahr, paid by the suitor to his fiancee's family to help them prepare the furniture of their daughter and a valuable jewelry gift, called Shabka, given by the suitor to his fiancee. The value of this gift depends on the financial and social levels of the suitor's family. When the two parties complete the agreement, they fix an appointed date for the engagement party. When the house of the new family becomes ready, the two families fix a date for the wedding party. The night before wedding day, the relatives, friends and neighbors get together to celebrate "the Henna Night". The next day, the marriage contract is signed and registered. After sunset, the wedding party starts and the couple wears their best dresses and jewelry. Malaysia In the Malaysian tradition, the bride and groom are treated as "king and queen for a day". During the betrothal, the pre-wedding meeting between the bride and the groom's parents, the dowry that will be given to the bride is determined as well as the date of the solemnization. The berinai (henna application) ceremony is held prior to the wedding. The bride's palms and feet are 'decorated' with the dye from the henna leaves. Akad Nikah, which is the signing of the contract, is normally presided over by a Kadhi, a religious official of the Syariat (Shariat) Court. A small sum of money called the Mas Kahwin seals the contract. The recent trend is to hold the solemnization in the mosque as was performed during the Prophet Muhammad's (peace and blessings be upon him) time. Singapore In the tradition of Singapore, the Mak Andam (beautician) as well as members of the bride's family will waylay the groom and ask for an 'entrance fee after the bride is ready. Only when they are satisfied with the amount would they allow the groom to see his bride. After successfully overcoming the 'obstacles', the marriage ceremonies take place. Relatives sprinkle petals and rice (fertility symbols) on the couple seated on the 'throne'. (by Amber Rehman Sound Vision Foundation) |
ISLAMIC VIEW ON ABORTION In principle, the Koran condemns the killing of humans (except in the case of defense or as capital punishment), but it does not explicitly mention abortion. This leads Islamic theologians to take up different viewpoints: while the majority of early Islamic theologians permitted abortion up to day 40 of pregnancy or even up to day 120, many countries today interpret these precepts protecting unborn children more conservatively. Although there is no actual approval of abortion in the world of Islam, there is no strict, unanimous ban on it, either. The Koran is based not only on the assumption that the first humans – Adam and his wife – were created by God, but also on the assumption that every individual is one of God’s creatures, is His property and servant. It is therefore fundamentally not up to the created individual to determine single-handedly the length of his own life or of the lives of others, who are also God’s property, or to end others’ lives prematurely. The Koran clearly disapproves of killing other humans: “Take not life which Allah has made sacred” (6.151; see also 4.29). It threatens the murderer with retaliation in this life (“O ye who believe! The law of equality is prescribed to you in cases of murder…”, 2.178) and the punishment of Hell in the life to come for the one who premeditatedly murders a fellow Muslim: “If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein (for ever)” (4.93). As to whether abortion is a form of killing a human, the Koran does not make any explicit statements. Only Sure 17.31 warns believers in general: “Kill not your children for fear of want. We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily the killing of them is a great sin..” Hence, theologians have concluded that the killing of a fetus is not permissible as soon as one can speak of it as of a “child”, a person whose parts are fully formed and into whom a soul has been breathed. There is no agreement among legal scholars – including those of the founders of the four schools of religious law of the early Islamic period – as to the exact point in time this happens, however. The Hanafi school (predominant in Turkey, the Middle East and Central Asia) allows abortions to take place principally until day 120; some jurists restrict this provision to “good cause”, e.g. if the mother is still nursing an infant and fears that her milk may run out during the new pregnancy. In aborting up to day 120, the woman commits a mere moral transgression, not a crime. The Shafi school (Southeast Asia, southern Arabia, parts of East Africa) allows abortions to be performed up to day 120. For the Maliki school (prevalent in North and Black Africa) an abortion is permissible with the consent of both parents up to day 40; it is no longer allowed after that. For the Hanbali school (predominant in Saudi Arabia and United Arabic Emirates) abortions are principally prohibited from day 40 onward. Some Shiite groups, such as the Ismailites, do not permit abortions to take place at all. In case of infringements of this law, abortions before day 40 are penalized with a monetary fee. Other Shiite groups such as the Zaydites allow abortions to be performed up to day 120, equating an abortion up to this point with contraception. Whoever injures a pregnant woman to the extent that she loses her child must pay compensation according to Islamic law. Strictly speaking, this money belongs to the dead child, who is to inherit it. The family of the woman who undergoes an abortion must also pay compensation if the child’s father had not consented to the abortion performed on her. Several differences become clear, however, between modern legal practices and the statements made by early Islamic jurists. In principle, the protection of unborn lives is today in the forefront, i.e. modern-day legal scholars judge more conservatively than the authors of the early Islamic legal texts. Exceptions are made in some countries if the life of the mother is endangered, based on Sure 2.233: "A mother should not be made to suffer because of her child.” As a result, abortion is possible for health reasons up to day 90 in many countries. In Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey abortion is fully prohibited (an exception is made if the mother’s life is endangered); this does not imply, however, that abortions are not at all performed. Tunisia’s liberal abortion practice allows for abortions to be performed up to the end of the third month. There, abortions are principally permissible for single as well as married women in the first three months, provided that a registered doctor performs them. The approval of the husband or of a male guardian is not required in Tunisia. Some contemporary voices speak out fully against abortion, arguing that Islam is granted strength through multitudes of children. Traditionally, a large family with several sons has always been the ideal situation in the Islamic world. Abortion in this context is compared with murder, with references to the endangered health of the woman. Other voices view abortion as a type of birth control and refer to the fact that the wives of prophets also practiced birth control with the approval of Muhammad. Muslim women’s rights advocates demand the right to free abortion in connection with the demand for self-determination. The hesitation of many doctors, for fear of legal prosecution, to perform abortions in clinics leads to illegal operations and numerous cases of death. A number of legal assessments (fatwas) have been published on the subject of abortion; these support one viewpoint or the other but do not legally have the character of law and are therefore not binding. From a Christian perspective If one takes into consideration the Koran’s clear condemnation of murder in general and of the killing of children in particular, as well as the view repeated many times in the Koran that man is one of God’s creatures and will be held accountable by Him, the rather extensive liberalness of early as well as contemporary Islamic theologians on the subject of abortion is surprising, as is the fact that abortion is at least tolerated in a number of exceptional situations in many Islamic countries. In general, abortion may be judged morally reprehensible, but it is deemed to be neither actual murder nor manslaughter. |
ãÔßæÑíä ÝÏíÊßã æÇááå Çäí ÇÍÈßã æÇááå ÕÏÞ ÝÏíÊßã |
íÓáãææ Îíææ æãÂÔÂÁÂááå Úáíß ãÎÊÂÂÑ ãæÇÖíÚ ÍáæÉ æãÝíÏå ÑÈí íÚØíß ÂáÝ ÚÇÝíÉ ^^ |
åáÇ æÛáÇ ËÇäßíæÇ ããßä ÊÍØ ãæÇÖíÚ Úä Extreme sport how to become successful in your life Emirates mall hertiage of the uae |
thanxxxxxxxxx alot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
ÊÓáã ÎææíÉ Ú ÇáãÌåææÏ |
ãæÖæÚ Íáææ æ ããíÒ ., æ ÊÓÊÂåá ÇáÊÞíã |
| ÇáÓÇÚÉ ÇáÂä 11:18 PM |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2 TranZ By
Almuhajir