Thursday, August 27, 2020

Waste Management Scandal Essay Sample free essay sample

Senior member Buntrock set up Waste Management. Inc. in 1968. Its main expectation is to get reusing and trash from private housing and concerns. WM other than discards the decline in landfills. It has become the biggest reject removal organization in the U. S. today. This organization has figured out how to last â€Å"one of the most crying bookkeeping fakes we have seen† said Thomas C. Newkirk of the SEC. This bookkeeping earth kept going from 1992 to 1997 and was the result of army inappropriate disbursal facilities to explode Waste Management’s total compensations. They other than erroneously recorded liabilities. deterioration. rescue estimation of advantages and the utile existence of those resources for run into extending overall gains. Buntrock was the indiscreet power of the soil. He set the sticking overall gains and urged the Numberss to be controlled to make those total compensations. Erroneously stretching the utile existence of the deny trucks and overstat ing the rescue estimation of them. We will compose a custom paper test on Squander Management Scandal Essay Sample or on the other hand any comparable subject explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page in twist diminished the one-year devaluation disbursals. blowing up overall gains. achieved this. In different occurrences focuses in old periods that have no rescue esteem joined to them out of nowhere were given rescue esteems. Furthermore. landfills were non devalued as they were loaded up with decline. GAAP expects landfills to be deteriorated in a similar mode as hardware. In Waste Management’s monetary proclamations. pretty much all landfills were conveyed at cost and were non deteriorated as they got loaded up with decline. They other than swelled the ecological local armies ( obligation ) to make a humility of hard money to disguise irrelevant working disbursals. This took into consideration net gain to be swelled each piece great. Squander Management other than submitted other ill-advised accounts while trying to cover the old year’s misrepresentation. Since the soil proceeded for mature ages the hyperbolic overall gains revealed at the terminal of one twelvemonth would go the balance for the undermentioned mature ages each piece swelled sticking total compensations. The main part of this utilization. known as bandage and geographics. was done at corporate focal office. The â€Å"top-l evel adjustments† wiped out about $ 490 million in current period working disbursals and accumulated errors. This $ 490 million originated from the sacking use when they balance their disbursals with irrelevant augmentations on the offer of benefits. The geographics use permitted them to make a trip 1000000s of dollars to various regions of the salary proclamation to â€Å"make the financials look the way we need to demo them† said James Koenig. one of the essential powers behind the earth. Be that as it may. none of the misleading exercises would hold gone obscure for such a long time without the help of the listeners. Arthur Anderson LLP. engaged with Waste Management. Buntrock did non move completely in this earth. A considerable lot of his significant level partners had a manus in this misrepresentation. Other cardinal members included: Phillip Rooney ( President. COO and CEO for a time of the soil ) . James E. Koenig ( CFO and Executive VP ) . Thomas C. Hau ( VP and Chief Accounting Officer ) . Bruce D. Tobecksen ( VP of Finance ) . what's more, Herbert Getz ( Senior VP. General Counsel and Secretary ) . Every individual from this earth enormously benefitted in some way. Buntrock made over $ 16. 9 million during the e arth. Rooney earned $ 9. 2 million. Koenig over $ 900. 000. Hau harvested over $ 600. 000. Tobecksen over $ 400. 000 and Getz picked up $ 450. 000. Despite the fact that the top degree executives profited in this situation. the investors endured enormously. They lost an aggregate of around $ 6 billion dollars in the market estimation of Waste Management’s stock. By the terminal of the earth Waste Management’s stock money related qualities dropped around 33 % . Generally speaking. Squander Management’s overall gains were exaggerated by over $ 1. 7 billion. As clasp advanced. the extent of exaggeration definitely expanded. In 1992. the per centum exaggerated was 14. 9 % and in 1995 the per centum exaggerated was 77. 6 % . In the last twelvemonth of the earth ( 1996 ) Waste Management truly got lost $ 39. 000. 000 however after the â€Å"top degree adjustments† they made over $ 190. 000. 000. During an adjustment in course during July of 1997. the new CEO mentioned a reappraisal of the bookkeeping examples of Waste Management which demonstrated the tricky action. This prompted the repetition of the monetary proclamation of the previous five mature ages. It other than made the soil travel open and the previous to p degree executives to be arraigned. In the terminal. they needed to pay a whole of over $ 30 million in mulcts and banned Buntrock. Rooney. Hau and Getz from ever being an official or supervisor of an open organization. None of them served cut in gaol since the occasion was settled outside of the court. Arthur Andersen LLP appeared to simply obtain a smack on the carpus by being rebuked by the SEC and got a little mulct contrasted with that of the top degree executives of Waste Management. Squander Management someway recuperated from this cataclysm. The new heading. counting A. Maurice Myers. has definitely changed the way things are done at Waste Management. He made certain the workers were all cheerful which incorporated a modification the paysheet framework and improved advantages. He other than approached the customers for their input and changed to suit their requests. Generally. through the fundamental changes Waste Management experienced. they significantly improved their financial situation. Stock financial qualities went up around 85 % from 2000 to 2003. Squander Management was removed the crap rundown and set on the putting list by numerous assessment departments in 2003. In 2008. Squander Management was named one of the world’s most moral organizations by Ethispher e.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Crowd Funding Report

Question: Depict about crowdfunding investigation and suggestions as per the exploration. Answer: Presentation Group subsidizing is a procedure where an enormous number of individuals contribute a little measure of their cash to raise the fund. As of not long ago, a huge amount of cash is asked from barely any individuals includes the way toward financing venture or business, however crowdfunding utilizes the web to interface with a large number of individuals for subsidizing. These assets help in setting up a site or venture which are controlled by the individuals from the association. Web based life, the system of companions that are utilized generally, can be utilized to fund-raise. Present day swarm subsidizing process includes a for the most part utilization of web-based social networking. Scientist's recommended that the cash can be given to makers or funders who see the field as progressively important. Elective money which has come out of the customary account framework is a type of group subsidizing( Kirby. what's more, Worner 2014) Conversation Group subsidizing is a lot of valuable for the makers giving a few advantages which can be budgetary or nonfinancial. As expressed by Belleflamme et al. (2013).Non-business benefits of crowdfunding incorporate I) A potential task helps in raising the profile of the maker just as help with boosting up their notoriety. ii) The venture began by an initiator can show the crowd and market for their undertaking which will be useful if there should arise an occurrence of fruitless condition, it can give advertise criticism. Iii) A discussion is made by venture initiators to associate with the crowds, and they are occupied with creation by taking updates from makers and sharing input by remarking on the crowdfunding page. Iv) input from the perusers helps the undertaking initiators in getting to the market or testing criticism from the market( Mitra 2012). There are numerous money related advantages from crowdfunding. It helps the makers in accomplishing ease capital. Prior a maker needs to take help from loved ones, home value advances, investment funds that are made for individual reasons, and so on however with the assistance of crowdfunding, makers can discover the funders from all through the world (Shiller 2013) Group subsidizing is an area that is as yet creating all through the world. It is a stage that helps the independent venture a beginning up by getting reserves. Speculation is basically made through online stages. As indicated by UK Crowdfunding Association, there are essentially three sorts of crowdfunding which are obligation, value, and gift. Gift swarm subsidizing fundamentally manages speculation and individuals puts cash since they have faith in a reason. Unconditional presents, collections, standard updates of news can be offered as a prize. Givers have either social or individual purpose for the speculation of cash. They don't anticipate anything in the arrival of their cash; their solitary intention is to assist the activities with feeling great( Belleflamme et al. 2014.) Obligation crowdfunding primarily manages speculators who took their cash back with premium. Obligation Crowdfunding is otherwise called distributed loaning. Paying off debtors swarm, subsidizing financial specialists put away their cash to makers to give assistance in their activities and return they recover their cash with some extra premium. At the point when the cash is loan to a poor, regularly in creating nations, they enthusiasm on the contributed capital isn't determined and they are helped in their tasks and at times the procedure is known as microfinance( Bruton and Wrigh 2015). Value crowdfunding manages the possibility that individuals for the most part contribute to get an open door for trading the proprietorship. Regularly, cash is moved to ventures, adventures, and so on for an offer. On the off chance that the estimation of a stock goes up, at that point, cash persistently increments, then again, on the off chance that the estimation of an offer beginnings diminishing, at that point a financial specialist can lose their cash out and out( Ahlers et al. 2015) Crowdfunding is a lot of helpful for both the makers and a financial specialist, and it completes three things well. They are-I) Announces the thought openly It gives a stage to convey and report the sentiments freely which will be significant just as fundamental. Ii)The arrange gets utilized It causes or permits to coordinate the shareable profile to companions, or to companions of companions to gain benefit. Along these lines, thusly, crowdfunding gives advantage to its speculators. Iii)Fundraise coordination-It ends up being a main issue in giving all its help in a brief period that is inside 30 to 90 days. After then assets are gathered from the supporters. Crowdfunding examination and suggestions as per the exploration: The exploration work is portrayed here as the estimation through the scientific foundation of Crowdfunding viewpoints in Brazil. The investigation of the previously mentioned realities essentially recommends that the how in the serious market the environment for the business is getting worked and connecting itself to their huge systems (Carvajal et al. 2012). The investigation of the crowdfunding viewpoint results to two inquiries The situating of the crowdfunding organizations in the business environment How they work the crowdfunding techniques in the business biological system appropriately. System: The various perspectives gathered from the different contextual investigations, the aggregated advances are those which is significant for the examination of the crowdfunding angle are, Diagnostic part of relevant definition Choice strategy of the case The meeting convention for the information assortment framework. Examination of the information Portrayal of the looked into information Choice of case: The occasion of the cross-subsidizing organizations of Brazil is picked as the principal example for the examination reason. Her two fundamental rules are featured The area of expressions and diversion is considered for the investigation, as it has the no issues to talk about. For having, in any event, a time of understanding for the for the meeting. The organizations which are chosen for the explanatory reason for existing are, Mobz, which is offering the extensions for the having the live perspective on the games, and different occasions. Next organization is Queremos, which is giving the brand name and fan bolster the happenings. The third one is Catarse, it partakes in the venture expressions. Assortment of information: The information for the examination is an assemblage of the information from the meetings and sites, and the reports gave by the inner sources and the inclusion region of the press. The inclusion zone for the media gives the data about the organization assets in subtleties. The convention perspective on the meeting: The convention perspective on the meeting point of view is examined here. Information examination: By the product bolster approach the relevant data is recorded isolated into ten angles, an) organizing impact of the online life, b) shows occurred, c) inspirational part of the client, d) CRM, e) forming of the substance, f) motivators for the members, g) margining, h) driving of time, I) basically assessed mass. From every one of these angles the information is accurately taken and afterward it is contrasted with care with get the perspective of the character. Result approach: To get the best possible outcomes, it is compulsory to acquire the outcomes in a composed way. This is accomplished by the point by point perspective on the biological system. The information from the three organizations are thought about in each progression of the judgment. Critical view purpose of the Crowdfunding approach: In any examination, there is in every case a few advantages factors and hazard factors for the exploration. The advantage and hazard factors are talked about here- The non-budgetary favorable circumstances of the Crowdfunding are-A) profile: a correct example bolsters the coordinator to get the notoriety. B) advertising approach: for the starting of the item in the market, it is essential to have right arrangement about the market. C) the board of the clients is another acceptable angle which is picked up by the Crowdfunding approach (Gerber and Hui 2013). Hazard variables of the Crowdfunding: Loss of notoriety: by not conveying the undertaking on time in light of disappointment of the battle missions is one risk in the Crowdfunding. Insurance of IP: before the item is propelled in the market the thought behind it some of the time get the break out in the market, which is another reason for disappointment of the missions of the Crowdfunding. Depletion of the giver party: In the event that a similar system supporters are reached a few times, at that point the hazard factors expanded. Damaging conduct of people in general: Without keeping up a guideline of the work culture, the trick can be happened to the reserve of the association (Davidson and Poor 2015). End: The examination work closes with the view that the crowdfunding approach gives the stage to organize gigantic quantities of basic occasions, it can produce new requests for the clients by the evaluation of the reminiscent of the pundits. As per the information recovered for the organization Mobz and Queremos, both of this organization have the methodology of improvement of the great parts of business. This kind of approach prompts the availability between the estimation of the item and the evaluation of the organizations. As indicated by the exploration, it is discovered that Brazil is monetarily steady enough as it has the help of Crowdfunding approach (Mollick 2014). In spite of the fact that the Crowdfunding has some negative viewpoints just as some positive side, it is very better to bring the fund and up in carrying the item to the market. By the help of Crowdfunding the clients can get strong viewpoint in conceivable way and the financial specialist looks from the single point can get appropriate worth (Belleflamme et al. 2013). Reference: Ahlers, G.K., Cumming, D., Gnther, C. what's more, Schweizer, D., 2015. Motioning in value crowdfunding. Business Theory and Practice, 39(4), pp.955-980. Belleflamme, P., Lambert, T. what's more, Schwienbacher, A., 2013. Individual crowdfunding rehearses. Investment, 15(4), pp.313-333 Belleflamme, P., Lambert, T. what's more, Schwienbacher, A., 2013. Individual crowdfunding practices.Venture Capital,15(4), pp.313-333. Belleflamme, P., Lambert, T. what's more, Schwienbacher, A., 2014. Crowdfu

The Theory of Continental Drift Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Theory of Continental Drift - Research Paper Example He likewise contended that landmasses rose up out of a â€Å"super continent† alluded as Pangaea. The icy till stores found at the southern side of the equator showed ice sheet development. This was seen with the landmasses intently fitted along with movement from southern Africa and Northern Australia. The nearness of the ice sheet with the writing material continent’s, would have just implied that the mainland would have been loaded with ice which was not the situation. The main consistent contention was that there was mainland float or the development of the shafts. Researchers likewise bolstered Alfred’s hypothesis of mainland float by concocting their own contentions to help the hypothesis. Paleomagnetism, which happens when charged minerals of the earth shaped from the cooling of magma on the earth surface, lines up with the earth’s attractive field. Rocks with various charge from that of the earth’s surface didn't concur with their situation on the earth’s surface. This came about to development of the attractive posts. Paleomagnetic information was apparent in North America and Europe. As indicated by (Hess, 1960, p 7) â€Å"Not just were the landmasses moving, yet the ocean bottom was additionally moving†. Hess contended that, the development of the ocean bottom in a belt style clarifies how the youthful rocks were found at the mid sea edges. This stones additionally had attractive properties. The mantle show is the development of the ocean bottom. ... Proof introduced at first didn't bode well and appeared to be fantastical. Wegener's speculation when all is said in done is of the footloose kind, in that it takes extensive freedom with our globe, and is less limited by limitations or secured by cumbersome, revolting realities than the majority of its opponent theories.† (McGeary 1999 p.5). The serious issue being that Alfred couldn't give them persuading proof to help his hypothesis. Alfred’s contention that mainlands were moving like icebreakers crashing through sheets of ice, and that radial, flowing powers are the ones that made them move was contradicted by researchers who determined that, powers sufficiently able to move this landmasses would prevent the earth from turning in under one year. Wegener’s off base forecasts, expressing that, North America and Europe were moving 250cm separated each year. Alexander Du Toit, a South African geologist, upheld it for the nearby likenesses of fossil and layers amon g Africa and South America. There was support granted to Wegener however simply after his passing however a large portion of the geologists despite everything had confidence in static mainlands. Later most Plate tectonics were broadly acknowledged by most geologists (1960). Wegener’s hypothesis of the of the traditional float was of the possibility that, the mantle under the earth’s outside layer would encounter warm show and the show flows would move coming about to an upwelling under the earth’s covering, compelling it to cecede and move. The theory stating that the earth hull contains lighter rocks laying on heavier ones, takes after that of ice sheets skimming on water. Wegener contends that, places of the landmasses are not unbendingly fixed, yet move gradually. As indicated by the

Friday, August 21, 2020

Waterproof Sunscreen Lotions

Chapter by chapter list Introduction Summary Description Explanation Comment Evaluation Conclusion Work Cited Introduction Vitamin D is one of the indispensable eating regimen necessities which is retained through the skin and forestalls the arrangement of rickets among people. In this manner, introduction to the sun is in every case sound. Be that as it may, of late individuals have found that because of the consumption of the Ozone layer (because of expansion of ozone depleting substances), people are presently presented to destructive bright beams known to cause sun consumes, untimely wrinkling of the skin and furthermore the frightful skin cancer.Advertising We will compose a custom report test on Waterproof Sunscreen Lotions explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More To forestall the skin malignant growth and opposite reactions, there have been crusades of utilizing waterproof sunscreen creams, for example, the Sunblock which is an item that gives a covering on the s kin which forestalls sun consumes and sun harms (Cooper 121). To forestall early presentation of their kids to the destructive Ultraviolet beams, guardians have been applying sunscreen salves to their bodies however in spite of the great capacities that these creams serve at securing individuals skins, whenever utilized heedlessly it can prompt fiasco. For instance if a waterproof sunscreen moisturizer goes into a kid or anybody eyes, it is difficult to expel them utilizing water since they are water evidence and if there is hesitance in reaching the specialists, it can cause changeless visual impairment. Synopsis Description Waterproof sunscreen salves are acceptable at ensuring your youngster against skin disease which can be brought about by the presentation to the daylight, yet while numerous individuals utilize the moisturizers in their everyday life, it is critical to take note of that there are negative repercussions if the creams are not utilized well. As appeared on account of the parent who applied a waterproof sunscreen moisturizer on his child and without realizing the child got some at him before it had dried, in all likelihood from his hands. The sunscreen moisturizer caused bothering and the kid cried since it was harming however the utilization of water to help facilitate the aggravation couldn't work since the cream was waterproof. At the point when he called the Poison Control Center and clarified what had occurred, they instructed him to take the youngster to Emergency Room where on appearance without sitting around, they applied a few synthetic substances in the boy’s eyes to weaken and expel the waterproof sunscreen. Just because, the parent understood that individuals do lose their eyes from the impacts of waterproof sunscreen as it consumes the eyes totally and in spite of the fact that his child lost his visual perception for two days, in any event he was fortunate to recuperate completely. The guardians later called the sunscree n organization and educated them about the issue, where the administration conceded the issue yet they said skin disease was more genuine than visual deficiency subsequently the proceeded with numbness. They additionally contended out that they can’t caution the guardians on the grounds that their items would lose showcase because of dread. The parent at that point proposed that they should in this way change the fixings utilized in making the lotion.Advertising Looking for report on wellbeing medication? How about we check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More To show the earnestness of this issue, the guardians did a gigantic article cautioning different guardians of the peril their children were presented to when utilizing the waterproof sunscreen salves yet realizing that waterproof sunscreen use couldn't stop, they cautioned them not to quit utilizing it however simply be cautious that their children don’t contact their eyes in a ny event for 15 minutes in the wake of applying and whenever done incidentally they ought to consistently contact Emergency Rooms immediately. Clarification The article is attempting to caution different guardians who apply moisturizers to their offspring of the approaching fiasco they open their youngsters to if not applied well or if the sunscreen cream got into the child’s eyes. This is plainly given by the circumstance the author ended up in when his child contacted his eyes with the waterproof sunscreen. Much in the wake of attempting to apply water in the boy’s eyes nothing appeared to work and he needed to contact the Poisons Control Center who guided him to visit the Emergency Room quickly as his child could be at risk for loosing visual perception. To ensure that each parent got this data, the guardians did a tremendous article on the issue in the city, and afterward visited a few newsrooms cautioning the guardians of the dangers in question however illuminati ng them not to quit utilizing the salve yet use it cautiously. Remark With the guardians having been cautioned, there is probability of diminished utilization of the waterproof sunscreen moisturizer. Guardians may move to utilizing sunscreen creams which are not water verification as water can help in weakening the synthetic compounds before arriving at the emergency clinics for appropriate medicine and consequently diminishing the unfriendly impacts. The guardians are likewise prone to be increasingly cautious in the jobs they play on their youngsters upkeep in such a case that not cautious, poor stockpiling of specific substances, for example, the waterproof sunscreen can prompt grave risks to the kids who may utilize them recklessly without knowing. Assessment The content is powerful because of the way that the writer of the article expresses that to show the earnestness of the issue, he reached the sunscreen organization and enquired why they delivered substances which they knew were perilous if heedlessly utilized without notice the users.Advertising We will compose a custom report test on Waterproof Sunscreen Lotions explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More The guardians went further and did an enormous article in the city notice against the equivalent, lastly visited newsrooms cautioning the guardians of the dangers in question. Be that as it may, this influence is lost when he educates the parent not to quit utilizing the sunscreen they be simply cautious that it never discover its way in their kids eyes. End It is sound and essential to utilize waterproof sunscreen for security against malignant growth which results from sun presentation yet it is additionally prudent to utilize water verification sunscreen cautiously as its contact with delicate body organs, for example, the eyes can prompt instances of visual impairment if not went to on schedule. Work Cited Cooper, Donald. Essentials of Search and Rescue. New York: Jones Bartlett Lear ning, 2005. This report on Waterproof Sunscreen Lotions was composed and put together by client Lance Zimmerman to help you with your own examinations. You are allowed to utilize it for research and reference purposes so as to compose your own paper; in any case, you should refer to it as needs be. You can give your paper here.

Chitin: Applications, Composition and Properties

Thursday, June 25, 2020

The Universal Happiness Available to Man Acording to the Encheiridion by Epictetus and Christian Gospels - Literature Essay Samples

hroughout the ancient world, there are distinctions drawn between different groups and hierarchies of people due to this. The Jews were the chosen group of God and because of that, the gentiles were separate from them and since unable to follow the Old Law, could not be saved. Aristotle writes of the possibility of slaves in the Politics and talks of the various slaves that the Greeks hold. Even if Aristotle does not actually believe in Natural Slavery, he still presents the views of the his contemporary culture and his contemporaries draw a distinction between themselves according to honor and status and between themselves and slaves, and barbarians. These various distinctions are due to either differences in physical nature, geographic location, or social rank. Both the Stoic and the Christian texts describe an dignity that is universal to mankind and makes every man equal, which consequently gives a foundation for happiness and due respect to each human being. Through exploring the worldview of the Stoics and the Christians, the differences in what entails ultimate happiness becomes apparent. The Stoic worldview is composed central to man’s reason, attributing all happiness in man’s life to the proper relation to passions and rationality. As Epictetus says in the first part of the the Encheirdion, Some things are up to us and some are not up to us. Our opinions are up to us, and our impulses, desires, aversions in short, whatever is our own doing. Our bodies are not up to us, nor are our possessions, our reputations, or our public offices, or, that is, whatever is not our own doing. The things that are up to us are by nature free, unhindered, and unimpeded; the things that are not up to us are weak, enslaved, hindered, not our own. So remember, if you think that things naturally enslaved are free or that things not your own are your own, you will be miserable, and upset, and will blame both gods and men. But if you think tha t only what is yours is yours, and that what is not your own is, just as it is, not your own, then no one will ever coerce you†¦ (Epictetus, 430)This introduction to the text holds the quintessential Stoic argument within it, that one ought to be concerned with what it is they may control, that being how they relate to their passions and their reason. As he states, all of our reactions are in our control. There exists the external world which dictates fortune, position, etc. and then there is our response to that, as he says our â€Å"opinionsimpulses, desires, aversions†. These reactions, either accepting, resilient, or what not, to how the external events occur are what define us. Thus if we give in to events and are in despair because of things out of our control, we will always be miserable. Anything in the external world could lead us to unhappiness, if we,humanity, were to be dependent on position or honor for happiness, then we might never be happy as their always exists more honor to be gained or positions higher to be held. The conferring of honor and position is given by others and just as easily as good words might be spoken of one, they are just as easily spoken about another or taken away. But the reaction to the words is something which may remain constant within you and never taken away which guarantees an internal peace. Epictetus also notes that things such as bodies (and necessarily then athletic ability, outward appearance, and physical prowess) and monetary status are given by fortune, so since one can not control their physical distinctions, their happiness and position ought not be based off of it. This eliminates class distinction strife and any ethnic strife and exchanges it with a distinction of merit and reason entirely in one’s control. Epictetus continues to describe what this control looks like in one’s daily life and prescribes how one ought to act in various situations. By examining these various circumstances, certain peculiarities or flaws with Stoicism are made clear. For example, when Epictetus describes going to the bathhouse he states When you are about to undertake some action, remind yourself what sort of action it is. If you are going out for a bath, put before your mind what happens at baths- there are people who splash, people who jostle, people who are insulti ng, people who steal. And you will undertake the action more securely if from the start you say of it, â€Å"I want to take a bath and to keep my choices in accord with nature;† and likewise for each action For that way if something happens to interfere with your bathing you will ready to say â€Å"Oh, well, I wanted not only this but also to keep my choices in accord with nature, and I cannot do that if I am annoyed with things that happen.† (Epictetus, 431) This seems reasonable, as the main goal in each action, is not even the fulfilment of each proximate circumstance (bathing), but that each choice is in line with reason. Thus peace can be achieved through the proper mindset of choices and not the fulfilment of external circumstances. The poor decisions of others can not affect the peace of the Stoic because while their decisions may affect his bathing for instance, his reason in no way is controlled by them and so he can disregard them in his reaction. This mindset is then further developed when Epictetus speaks of grief and death. You are foolish if you want your children and your wife and your friends to live forever, since you are wanting things to be up to you that are not up to you, and things to be yours that are not yours†¦ When you see someone weeping in grief at the departure of his child or the loss of his property, take care not to be carried away†¦ and even moan with him if the occasion arises; but be careful not to moan inwardly. (Epictetus, 432-33) This might seem peculiar as the desire for loved ones to not be harmed seems natural, but since the Stoic system is built around knowing what is in one’s control (their reason) and out of their control (externals), this reaction would fit in their belief properly. The desire for loved ones to live forever seems to be perfectly natural, as it is naturally good for one to be alive and the destruction of a life is the not apart of the end of man, thus grieving over a loved one seems natural. But the Stoic philosophy does not seem to account for a good, only a way to stay at peace. If reason is good, then it be a wrong for one to die, as their reason is abolished. This seems to be a discrepancy in Stoic Thought. This discrepancy seems further demonstrated in the call by Epictetus to imitate sorrow with one’s fellow man. For why would one pretend to grieve and moan with another if it is truly not bad. Instead it seems that if it is truly good to not grieve a loved one, then the Stoic would not lie to his fellow man. Perhaps, Stoicism provides a way to have peace, if peace is the elimination/reduction of stressful concern or strife. Though this elimination seems to occur through a reduction of the world, so that the externals almost hold no good, and the world is only as big as one’s own reason. What good is enjoying externals if one must not care about them unless they are good to one’s self and pain is ignored. The Christian texts seem to provide a way in which there is peace and peace for everyman and the world, an order, while not sacrificing concern for externals. The Christian texts also hold a peace and good for each and every man, similar to the philosophy of the Stoics, without the reduction of concern that the Stoics hold. The Christian can be happy living in a world of pain, is ordered in a world of disorder, and each man has value to him. The essential belief of the Christians seems to be held in a few tenets. Peter, one of the Apostles, states â€Å" â€Å"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit† (Acts 2.38). This is developed later on with, â€Å"Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one wholoves another has fulfilled the law.† (Romans 13.8). These commandments, to live in line with the new law, open to both Gentile and Jew, Slave a nd Master alike, and to love God by loving Man, essentially provides a new nature and a new hope for man. The incarnation of Christ gives a new order to the Cosmos so that peace is not found within oneself but in the omnipotent, omniscient, and also loving God that any man can access. Thus instead of ignoring externals and focusing simply on the controllable internal, the Christian finds solace in the the fact that he can influence the externals through love and that all is within God’s hands. There do seem to be some similarities, in terms of how the Christian is not of this world even if he is in it as the Stoic does not allow himself to be affected by outside things. This is evidenced by the Temptation of the Jesus and the following interaction where the devil proclaims â€Å"If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.†( Matthew 4.3) and Christ replies â€Å"It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’†(Matthew 4.4) . In this passage, we see Satan offering material good to the Christ and Christ proclaims that for the good, material things are not what fully sustain man but also the spiritual is necessary for happiness. So the Christian worldview agrees with the Stoic worldview in so far as material circumstance is not the determining factor in happiness as well as the fact that their include some internal factor, where the Stoic factor is the reason, t he Christian internal factor is one that receives God’s word and which loves. This is further developed in the Temptation with the Third Temptation of Christ. Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdomsof the world and the glory of them; and he said to him, â€Å"All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.† Then Jesus said to him, â€Å"Begone, Satan! for itis written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’†Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him. â€Å"(Matthew 4.8-11) This temptation again provides a certain rejection of the material and external world, not because the it is not within Christ’s control but because it is not lasting and the highest point for the Christian is the Lord. This shows that the Christian and the Stoic differ in the reliances or foundations like so; the Stoic relies on his reason because it is the only thing that is his own and the Christian founds himself on something better. His source of happiness is something unchanging and above time. So both of them rely on something that is not fickle, either something there own or God. But the Stoic’s reason also has it end and does not make sense of the world in the same way that the Lord does. Also more importantly, even though God is external, unlike reason which is an internal power, one becomes closer to God and even part of the body of Christ when one loves and follows the way. As Peter says, believers receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and thus the foundation for happiness for Christians is not only transcendent but integrates and perfects their own nature. Thus, it is not a simple dependence on your soul and your soul alone but a communion of your soul with the Unchanging. Another difference between Christianity and Stoicism is that Christianity seems to be necessarily social whereas Stoicism allows for detachment fr om even family and says to remember that living beings pass as all other things do. As is evidenced by the fact that the reading concerned with Christian life is titled Acts, the Christian life is necessarily connected with the life of others and treating them as brothers and sisters in Christ. This is further supported by the fact that Christian text accounts for living within a society. Stoic and Christian thought seem to be similar in that they both account for happiness in a way that is non discriminatory in a physical or external manner but rather it is concerned with the internal life and the way in which our soul acts. They both consider external things as less pertinent to one’s life than the soul though they also diverge on this point. Stoicism is ultimately limited in that it allows for peace through reliance purely on reason but in that same act, it limits the world to oneself. Christianity is self-reliant from the actions of others for one’s own happiness as Stoicism is, but that because it presumes an order for other’s action and knows that there is a self-evidence to divine love.

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Fascinating Black-Footed Ferret Facts

Black-footed ferrets are easily recognized by their distinctive masked faces and resemblance to pet ferrets. Native to North America, the black-footed ferret is a rare example of an animal that went extinct in the wild, but survived in captivity and was ultimately released again. Fast Facts: Black-Footed Ferret Scientific Name: Mustela nigripesCommon Names: Black-footed ferret, American polecat, prairie dog hunterBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 20 inch body; 4-5 inch tailWeight: 1.4-3.1 poundsLifespan: 1 yearDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: Central North AmericaPopulation: 200Conservation Status: Endangered (formerly extinct in the wild) Description Black-footed ferrets resemble domestic ferrets as well as wild polecats and weasels. The slender animal has buff or tan fur, with black feet, tail tip, nose, and face mask. It has triangular ears, few whiskers, a short muzzle, and sharp claws. Its body ranges from 50 to 53 cm (19 to 21 in), with a 11 to 13 cm (4.5 to 5.0 in) tail, and its weight ranges from 650 to 1,400 g (1.4 to 3.1 lb). Males are about 10 percent larger than females. Habitat and Distribution Historically, the black-footed ferret roamed across the prairies and steppes of central North America, from Texas to Alberta and Saskatchewan. Their range correlated with that of prairie dogs, since ferrets eat the rodents and use their burrows. After their extinction in the wild, captive-bred black-footed ferrets were reintroduced across the range. As of 2007, the only surviving wild population is in the Big Horn Basin near Meeteetse, Wyoming. Diet Around 90 percent of the black-footed ferrets diet consists of prairie dogs (genus  Cynomys), but in regions where prairie dogs hibernate for winter, ferrets will eat mice, voles, ground squirrels, rabbits, and birds. Black-footed ferrets get water by consuming their prey. Ferrets are preyed upon by eagles, owls, hawks, rattlesnakes, coyotes, badgers, and bobcats. Black-footed ferrets eat prairie dogs. USFWS Mountain-Prairie Behavior Except when mating or raising young, black-footed ferrets are solitary, nocturnal hunters. Ferrets use prairie dog burrows to sleep, catch their food, and raise their young. Black-footed ferrets are vocal animals. A loud chatter indicates alarm, a hiss shows fear, a females whimper calls her young, and a males chortle signals courtship. Like domestic ferrets, they perform the weasel war dance, consisting of a series of hops, often accompanied by a clucking sound (dooking), arched back, and frizzed tail. In the wild, the ferrets may perform the dance to disorient prey as well as to indicate enjoyment. The weasel war dance or dooking may be associated with hunting or with play. Tara Gregg / EyeEm / Getty Images Reproduction and Offspring Black-footed ferrets mate in February and March. Gestation lasts 42 to 45 days, resulting in the birth of one to five kits in May and June. The kits are born in prairie dog burrows and dont emerge until they are six weeks old. Initially, the kits are blind and have sparse white fur. Their eyes open at 35 days of age and dark markings appear at three weeks of age. When they are a few months old, the kits move to new burrows. Ferrets are sexually mature at one year of age, but reach peak reproductive maturity at age 3 or 4. Unfortunately, wild black-footed ferrets typically only live one year, although they can reach 5 years of age in the wild and 8 years of age in captivity. Conservation Status The black-footed ferret is an endangered species. It was extinct in the wild in 1996, but downgraded to endangered in 2008 thanks to a captive breeding and release program. Initially, the species was threatened by the fur trade, but it went extinct when prairie dog populations declined due to pest control measures and conversion of habitat to cropland. Sylvatic plague, canine distemper, and inbreeding finished off the last of the wild ferrets. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service artificially inseminated captive females, bred ferrets in zoos, and released them in the wild. The black-footed ferret is considered a conservation success story, but the animal faces an uncertain future. Scientists estimate only about 1,200 wild black-footed ferrets (200 mature adults) remained in 2013. Most reintroduced ferrets died from ongoing prairie dog poisoning programs or from disease. While not hunted today, ferrets still die from traps set for coyotes and mink. Humans pose a risk by killing prairie dogs directly or by collapsing burrows from petroleum industry activities. Power lines lead to prairie dog and ferret deaths, as raptors perch on them for easy hunting. At present, the average lifespan of a wild ferret is about the same as its breeding age, plus juvenile mortality is very high for those animals that do manage to reproduce. Black-Footed Ferret vs. Pet Ferret Although some domestic ferrets resemble black-footed ferrets, the two belong to separate species. Pet ferrets are descendants of the European ferret, Mustela putorius. While black-footed ferrets are always tan, with black masks, feet, tail tips, and noses, domestic ferrets come in a wide variety of colors and usually have a pink nose. Domestication has produced other changes in pet ferrets. While black-footed ferrets are solitary, nocturnal animals, domestic ferrets will socialize with each other and adjust to human schedules. Domestic ferrets have lost the instincts needed to hunt and build colonies in the wild, so they can only live in captivity. Sources Feldhamer, George A.; Thompson, Bruce Carlyle; Chapman, Joseph A. Wild mammals of North America: biology, management, and conservation. JHU Press, 2003. ISBN 0-8018-7416-5.Hillman, Conrad N. and Tim W. Clark. Mustela nigripes. Mammalian Species. 126 (126): 1–3, 1980. doi:10.2307/3503892McLendon, Russell. Rare U.S. ferret marks 30-year comeback. Mother Nature Network, September 30, 2011.Owen, Pamela R. and Christopher J. Bell. Fossils, diet, and conservation of black-footed ferrets Mustela nigripes.  Journal of Mammalogy.  81  (2): 422, 2000.Stromberg, Mark R.; Rayburn, R. Lee; Clark, Tim W.. Black-footed ferret prey requirements: an energy balance estimate. Journal of Wildlife Management. 47 (1): 67–73, 1983. doi:10.2307/3808053