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2021年1月7日发(作者：葛昌纯)What a Firefighter’s Job Is Like

The damage that a fire can cause is obvious and this is why the firefighters’ jobs are so important. Firefighters are usually the first ones responding to any type of emergency and perform many tasks, which include putting out burning buildings, helping out with medical emergencies, vehicle accidents and many other incidents. They must make sure their equipment is clean and all the items they use are in proper working order. Keeping their skills up to date is necessary. Therefore, they will be continually trained with new equipment and techniques. Because of the extreme conditions and also the stress associated with the emergency situations that arise, the firefighters definitely need to stay in shape for the work they must do. They will stay in the fire station while on duty. Unless the need to work on the trunks or respond to a call, they can eat, sleep, shower and watch TV at the fire station, just like at home.(160 words)



Aliens

For a long time, aliens have often been in the news. They have always been surrounded by mystery and interest of people all around the world. People have claimed to have been abducted by aliens. Some have claimed to have actually seen them. But is there a sound proof that can prove aliens to be real? Alien sightings have mostly been accompanied by sightings of lights in the night sky. Some of them have also believed that the lights came from the spaceships used by the aliens. Disk-like objects traveling across the sky have often been taken as aliens’ vehicles. At times, people have found blood or hair at the locations where aliens were sighted. Researchers say alien sightings could have probably been a result of human imagination accompanied by fear, and some of these sightings might have been a result of certain astronomical phenomena.(145 words)



Computer Eyeglasses

As computers become a more and more vital part of today’s lifestyle and practices, new medical conditions are developing as a result of their usage. The most common to date is computer vision problems, which include eye pain, tired and burning eyes, watering or dy eyes, eye strain. One would never imagine that such a useful and innovative tool could cause so much physical discomfort! As a result of these, science professionals seized the opportunity to create computer eyeglasses to ease these common conditions and make computer usage less painful and more comfortable. The computer vision problems affect adults as well as children. Although children normally have different requirements for near and distance vision glasses, computer eyeglasses can be used universally for both groups. Please note that near the distance vision glasses should not be used as replacements for computer glasses. They do not serve the same purpose, and in some cases will cause more harm than good.(158 words)



Labor Day

International Labor Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, is scheduled for May 1st of each year. It i

s a holiday in celebration of the eight-hour workday. It evolved from efforts of the labor union movement to celebrated as a national holiday across many countries around the world. The idea for a workers’ holiday began in Australia in 1856 but was celebrated on May 1st in 1886 in Chicago. In China, Labor Day was extended to three days during the 1990s. The Chinese government made it a seven- day holiday by moving the prior and upcoming weekends together with these three days. This holiday allowed millions of Chinese people to travel or take other activities during this period. However, China has reduced the Golden Week holiday down to one day in 2008, while at the same time receiving some traditional holidays such as Mid-Autumn Festival. (158 words)



Negative Effects of Television

Spending too many hours watching television wastes the precious time that can rather be spent in fruitful and healthy activities like exercise or reading. It also uses up the time that you can rather spend with your family and friends. Chatting with your near ones, spending time with your close ones is a better way of spending time than watching TV. People watching television, especially children and youngsters, start identifying with what is shown on TV. They relate to television shows and films to such an extent that they get bored of living a normal and simple life. They are eager for fame and money; they long for living the lives of their favorite TV characters. This may lead to a high amount of dissatisfaction for the real world. As real life is the contrast of the life shown on TV, such TV addicts become hungry for power, money and status. (151)



Family Life in India

Family life is equally varied in Indian states India is a country with many states in which people are from different cultures, and so on. The languages, clothing, customs, and traditions of people are influenced by the respective regions they live in. Most of the families in India are extended ones, in which every member has his or her own role, often influenced by age and gender. Children are cherished and considered as gifts from God. Children can look forward to continual family support throughout their lives. However, they are expected to respect their elders and parents, their wishes and family relationships. The family structure in India is typical, in which there are many wedding customs, which have to be strongly followed by people. Religion, social status, traditional practices, and regional differences influence family structures. Indians are more emotionally attached to the members of their family structures. Indians are more emotionally attached to the members of their family. Husbands and wives are not allowed to openly display their affection for one another. (160 words)



Society’s Influence on Education

Society plays an important role in education, and influences it both positively and negatively. Social inequalities and unhealthy educational practices are some of the nega

tive influences of society on our lives. Customs and traditions prevent certain sections of society from exercising their fundamental rights and get in the way of the well- being of society, shatter the basic ideas of education and social awareness. Some social groups deny women’s right to education, while others force children to work, depriving them from a healthy environment which is good to their growth and development. Education is one of the basic human social norms come in the way of social welfare, it defeats the purpose of education. Society is an entity that can’t be separated from us. It is we who make up the society. It is entirely in our hands whether to add value to our education or devalue it.(149)

Choosing the Perfect Hair Color

Coloring your hair is one way to express your individuality. Choosing the right hair color can be confusing whether you want to cover gray hair or give yourself a new fresh look. If you are clear about what you want exactly, it can help while choosing the hair color that is right for you. You can achieve the most flattering look, if you consider your akin make-up and eye color. Hair color that balances your complexion gives the best results. For covering gray hair, you can select a shade close to your natural hair color. Hair highlights are another way to improve your overall look. Highlights can look fascinating and make an attractive impression. They add depth and dimension to the base color or natural hair. Different hair colors suit different complexions. In order to choose a suitable hair color, you need to identify the right combination. (148 words)



Traditional Brazilian Clothing

Brazil is known internationally for its stylish and sophisticated clothing. Brazilian clothes are comfortable, vivid, beautifully crafted and decorated with attractive laces. Traditional Brazilian clothing is influenced by a combination of different races and immigrants from all over the world. A true traditional Brazilian clothing can be seen in the countryside, where men’s clothing includes shirt, jeans and dresses made from inexpensive cotton. In the south of Brazil, the cowboys wear a distinctive dress including loose-fitting trousers, while in the northeast region they wear coat, hat and leather trousers. In the urban areas of Brazil ,most people prefer modern clothing. Young men wear jeans and T-shirts. Short skirts and dresses are very popular among women. Brazilian jeans are very common and they come in a wide variety of styles and textures. Jeans made for women are tight-fitting and loose-fitting near the feet. Due to abundance of beautiful beaches, beachwear is a very popular clothing in Brazil. (156 words)



Health Benefits of Red Wine

We all know drinks containing alcohol are not good for health, but when it comes to drinking red wine, it is the other way around. Recent studies have concluded that there are no negative effects on the body, if red wine is not consumed excessively. Certain com

pounds in red wine can play a very important role in protecting the heart. It is a heat-healthy drink that can be enjoyed during evening meals. If you think that red wine is only good for the heart, then you are wrong. Studies have revealed that the substance found in the skin of red grapes, can restrict cancer’s development. However, the ideal consumption is not 7 to 8 glasses of red wine. Scientific studies on the potential benefits of red wine recommend that women should not have more than one drink per day; whereas men can have 2 drinks per day. The word “moderate” is the key to maximize health benefits of red wine.



How to Gain Fluency in Another Language

To gain fluency in another language, many people will tell you the only solution is to travel to a foreign country and immerse yourself completely. This advice may be greatly appealing for some people. But for the majority of people, this solution is both inconvenient and costly. Thankfully, the Internet has brought us new and exciting options for communicating in another language. To expand your vocabulary, try reading free articles and original books in another language. To begin with, reading may be a slow and frustrating process as you will have to stop to look up the meanings for many unfamiliar words. Before you begin, find an online dictionary that will offer you quick translations. Hearing a language is the key to learn how to speak it. Popular music downloading sites offer free audio files that you can download and take with you wherever you go. And most importantly, one must actually practice speaking the language.



Holidays in the US

Like other nations, the United States sets aside a number of days each year to commemorate events, people or public occasions. These holidays typically are marked by a general suspension of work and business activity, and by public or religious ceremonies. Technically, the United States does not celebrate national holidays. However, Congress has designated 10 legal public holidays. During such public holidays, most federal institutions are closed and most federal employees are excused from work. Although the individual states and private businesses are not required to observe these, in practice all states and nearly all employers observe the majority of them. Since 1971, a number of these holidays have been fixed on Mondays rather than on a particular calendar date so as to afford workers a long holiday weekend. Meanwhile, there are some US state holidays particular to individual US states.



Harvard University

Harvard College was established in 1636. Harvard is America’s oldest institution of higher learning, founded 140 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed. The University has grown from nine students with a single master to an enrollment of more than 18000 degree candidates, including undergraduates and students in 10 principal academic units. An additional 13000 students are enrolled in one or more courses in the

Harvard Extension School. Over 14000 people work in one or more courses in the Harvard Extension School. Over 14000 people work at Harvard, including more than 2000 faculty. There are also 7000 faculty appointments in affiliated teaching hospitals. Our mission, to advance new ideas and promote enduring knowledge, has kept the University young. We strive to create an academic environment in which outstanding students and scholars from around the world are continually challenged and inspired to do their best possible work. It is Harvard’s collective efforts that make this university such a vibrant place to live, to learn, to work, and to explore.



Organic Coffee

Today many agricultural products are grown using organic methods and coffee is no exception. Organic products have a very minimal effect on the environment because there is no use of pesticides and fertilizers. All organic produces are certified to ensure that their products are grown in such a way. Organic coffee is multimillion dollar industry and each year the sales of this coffee are increasing. Exports of organic coffee are up in most of Europe and North America. Organic coffee is usually grown in many countries such as Africa, Asia and South America. All over the world people have become organic coffee drinkers, but Americans consume the majority of it. All organic coffee products in the USA are certified for quality. The organic coffee is produced in a very specific way and all operators are at random inspected to ensure that they meet US Department of Agriculture standards.



White Pollution

White pollution refers to plastic pollution. It is a new member of pollution family, but it grows fast. Unrecyclable plastic lunch boxes line along railroads. Plastic shopping bags dance in the wind. When leaders are busy mapping out blueprints for the future, one color “WHITE” from white pollution becomes their headache. Everything in the life circle deserves its place on earth. If we continue using plastic lunch boxes, shopping bags and other unrecyclable plastic products, what would happen? One day they might bury us in an ocean of white rubbish. Then the earth, our common home, would be a dustbin. To prevent this nightmare from coming true, governments need to work closely with each other and back up their verbal commitment by actions. However, it is not enough only to ask what governments can do to get rid of white pollution. We must ask ourselves what we as individuals can do to color the earth green instead of white.



Environmentally Friendly Cars

Environmentally friendly cars are supposed to be the vehicles of future generations. Nevertheless, such cars exist now and are becoming more popular in the modern car market than traditional vehicles which work on fossil fuels. The advantages of such cars are not only in their lower harmfulness for the environment and people’s health but also in the lower fuel costs. However, their production is rather expensive, so it is still

a controversial point bother for the customers and the automobile manufacturers. Although they are more expensive to buy, they pay for themselves in a period of about 5 years because they consume less expensive fuels. The common types of environmentally friendly cars include electric cars, fuel-cell-powered cars, crossbreed cars and solar cars, crossbreed cars and solar cars. And environmentally friendly cars have become the choice of many people who decided to reduce the influence of burning fossil fuels on the nature.



Overpopulation

O verpopulation is the condition where the number of organisms exceeds the carring capacity of their habitat. We are facing the effects of overpopulation in our daily lives. Overpopulation has affected the life of common man and has proved to be one of the most serious difficulties that have to be fought. Overpopulation impiles a shortage of resources and economic inflation. Living through the negative effects of overpopulation has made us realize serious problems associated with it. It is hight time we waken up and found the causes of overpopulation and worked on them. Generally, the causes of overpopulation include decline in the death rate, rise in the birth rate, migration and lack of education. Not every nation is capable of providing its people with the adequate amount of resources. The ever-increasing population will eventually fail to provide its people with the resources they need to thrive. When the environment fails to accommodate the living beings that inhabit it, overpopulation becomes a disaster.



The Bottled Water

The bottled water used can be sourced from public water sources, and the purity and safety depend largely on the regulation of quality adopted within a country. The regulation conducted and recorded ensures that the bottled water’s quality is sage. The label on the bottled water container or bottle accurately reflects bottle contents, or at least it is expected to. In many developing and under-developed nations, these standards are variable. This makes the safety of the bottled water controversial. There is no doubt about the convenience of bottled water relative to boiling. However, bottled water may provide a possibility to unsage dringking water only for those who can afford it. The sales of bottled water have surpassed the sales of all other drinks, except some soft drinks. And the bottled water companies make a good money even though the popularity of bottled water has been criticized by environmentalist, economists and care-takers and- givers.



Online Education

Online education, or distance learning, has really taken on a life of its own in the past few years. With the availability of the Internet, it is becoming easier and easier to join one of the approved online colleges and to get your degree online. These colleges are spread out all over the world. If you are truly getting your education online, then you don’t have to be in the same city as if you were getting your deg

ree locally. You simply log into the classroom every day to get your assignments, then you upload them in order to get your grade. There isn’t even a need to meet the teachers or other students and you can do it at any time of the day. Therefore, it won’t interfere with your work schedule or your life in general. And the great news is that employers are recognizing more and more that an online education is a great way to go.



Red Wolves

Red wolves present a characteristic red colored fur which is more obvious behind the ears and in the neck and legs. Other than these parts, the fur color of red wolves is brown with black shading in the back and tail. Their big ears help them overcome hot and humid climatic conditions. The average size of red wolves is 4 feet in length, 20 inches tall and weight about 45 to 80 pounds. Generally, red wolves attain sexual maturity at the age of 22 months; however, there are some species that attain within 10 months. The breeding season of red wolves is during February and March and their pregnancy period is about 2 months. Females give birth to about 1 to 10 children one time around March to April. The newly borns usually stay with their parents about two years, after which, they spread around the wild. The lifespan of red wolves is around 7 tor 8 years in the wild and about 15 years in captivity.



The Earth Day

Our Planet Earth has so much to give us. From the beautiful natural surroundings to the rich types of creatures, Planet Earth has loads of things to offer that only make the life more beautiful. However, have you given a thought to how many individuals actually respect this planet? April 22nd is know the world over as Earth Day. It is celebrated to create more awareness about our planet and situations that we need to take care of to ensure our Planet Earth is well loved and cared for. As things are, we need to celebrate it on one day to remind us of the responsibilities we need to handle in the coming years. The importance of Planet Earth is something that should be taught to children in their early years, at home and in the school. Only then will the young and old alike, understand the issues such as global warming, energy conservation and the importance of recycling.



Car Alarm System

Car alarm systems are basic ways to keep thieves away. The first car alarm system was designed in 1896. Nowadays every car is fitted with advanced electronic sound alarm system. Though car alarm systems do not always stop the theft from happening but they do create troubles, which act as alarms for both the owner of the car and the thief. There have been innumerable cases when in spite of the car alarm system being there, the vehicle has been stolen, because at times the car alarm system fails to understand what exactly is a car theft. Experts are of the opinion that nowadays thefts occur in spite of the alarm system being there because nobody bothers much about it. People do not pay attention because alarm syste

ms sound even when there is a strong wind or a pet trying to interfere with the vehicle. Moreover, thieves are designing newer ways to make new technologies that are being used failed.



Domestic Violence and Abuse

Domestic abuse occurs when one person in an intimate relationship or marriage tries to dominate and control the other person. An abuser doesn’t play fair. He or she uses fear, guilt, and shame to wear you down and gain complete power over you. He or she may threaten you, hurt you, or hurt those around you. Domestic abuse or domestic violence may be men or women, although women are more commonly victimized. Except for the gender difference, domestic abuse doesn’t discriminate. It happens within all age ranges, ethnic backgrounds, and financial levels. The abuse may occur during a relationship, while the couple is breaking up, or after the relationship has ended. Despite what many people believe, domestic violence is not due to the abuser’s loss of control over his behavior. Actually, violence is a deliberate choice made by the abuser in order to take control over his wife or partner.



Differences Between Chinese and Western Eating Habits

There are great differences between Chinese and Western eating habits. Unlike the West, where everyone has their own plate of food, in China the dishes are placed on the table and everybody shares. If you are being treated by a Chinese host, be prepared for a ton of food. Chinese are very proud of their culture of cuisine and will do their best to show their hospitality. And sometimes the Chinese hosts use their chopsticks to put food in your bowl or plate. This is a sign of politeness. The appropriate thing to do would be to eat the whatever-it-is and say how tasty it is. If you feel uncomfortable with this, you can just say a polite thank-you and leave the food there. And you should never tap on your bowl with your chopsticks, which can be very insulting to the host.



High School Dancing Party in the US

In the United States, a dancing party is held at the end of senior year for high school students. Smaller schools may hold a dancing party open to the entire student body. Large high schools may hold two dancing parties, a junior dancing party for those finishing their 11th grade year and a senior dancing party for those who are graduating high school. Dancing parties are mostly attended by juniors and seniors, but some schools allow all classes to attend. The Junior and Senior classes may participate in fund raisers throughout the school year to reduce the cost of prom. Dancing party tickets are sold at school and are traditionally purchased by boys for the couple. It is not unusual for people attending dancing parties as friends to purchase a couple’s ticket. The cost of half of one couple’s ticket is generally less than that of one for an individual.



Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science which aims to

create it. Textbooks define it as the study and design of intelligent agents, where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions which maximize its chances of success. The field was founded on the claim that human intelligence can be so precisely described that it can be simulated by a machine. The discipline of Artificial Intelligence has come a long way since its beginning. It has turned into an important field, whose influence on our daily lives can hardly be overestimated. Many specialized Artificial Intelligence systems exist that are at work in our cars, in our laptop computers, and in our personal and commercial technologies. There is no doubt that the impact of Artificial Intelligence on our lives in the future will become even more general and universal.



Marketing

Marketing is the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideas, goods, and services to create exchanges that satisfy individual and organizational objectives. It consists of advertising and promoting your product or service in order to sell it. Your business produces gods and services. Marketing is to let potential customers know what are available for sale. Sales, advertising, and public relations are essential components of marketing and each requires specialized skills and expertise. While a small business may have only one person performing al these functions under the marketing umbrella, knowledge of each area is important to develop a focused effort. A focus on what the customer wants and needs is essential to successful marketing efforts. This customer-orientation should go hand- in-hand with the company’s objective of maintaining a profitable volume of sales. Marketing is a creative process combining all of the activities needed to accomplish both of these objectives.



The World Health Day

The World Health Day is on 7th April. It marks the founding of the World Health Organization and is an opportunity to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major importance to global health each year. World Health Day 2009 focuses on the safety of health facilities and the readiness of health workers who treat people affected by emergencies. Health centers and staff provide vital health care in communities every day. In disasters, their services are in even greater demand: treating injuries, preventing illnesses and caring for people’s urgent health needs. A safe hospital that continues t function at best capacity during and after a disaster or other emergency is a safe haven that protects lives. Safe health facilities are a joint responsibility, requiring crucial support from other sectors to ensure essential life-lines. When health facilities stop functioning, it is a double blow to a devastated community.



Wood Recycling

Recycling timber is the process of turning waste timber into usable products. Recycling timber is a practice that was popularized in the early 190s as issues such

as deforestation and climate change, prompted both timber suppliers and consumers to turn to a more sustainable timber source. Recycling timber has become popular due to its image as an environmentally friendly product. Consumers commonly believe that by purchasing recycled wood, the demand for green timber will fall and ultimately benefit the environment. Recycled timber is now used as a construction product. It has been important in both raising industry and consumer awareness towards deforestation and promoting timber mills to adopt more environmentally friendly practices. Wood recycling is a subject which has in recent years taken an even greater role in our lives. The problem, however, is that although many local authorities like the idea of recycling, they do not fully support it.



Idioms

An idiom is defined as a group of words whose meaning must be known as a whole, because it cannot be learned from the meaning of the same words used separately. Obviously, there is a problem when you cannot look up individual words in a dictionary and find the meaning, the usual strategy we all employ when we come across a word or words that are unfamiliar. With idioms, however, we must learn the group of words. In everyday English, idioms are in common use. In fact, idioms are so common that most native speakers do not even realize that they are using idioms. It is particularly important to recognize idioms when you hear them or read them. When you are able to use them comfortable in your own speech and writing, and then you have achieved a higher level of mastery and fluency in the language.



The Free Hugs Campaign

The Free Hugs Campaign is a social movement involving individuals who offer hugs to strangers in public places. The campaign in its present form was started in 2004 by an Australian man. Initially, people were suspicious of the strange man on the street offering to hug anyone who wanted one. Soon, however, suspicion gave way t enthusiastic acceptance. When authorities tried to stop the campaign, over 10000 people signed t ensure it continuance. The campaign became famous internationally in 2006 as the result of a music video uploaded into the Internet. The response to the video was astounding. Many people joined this newly created movement, and went out offering free hugs to whoever wanted one. His event demonstrates how the Internet can be sued to connect humanity above the boundaries of space and time. The hugs are meant to be random acts of kindness; reputedly selfless acts performed by a person for the sole reason of making others feel better.



Effect of Cell phones

Cell phones are an unavoidable part of daily life. Even if you do not own one yourself, you are exposed to them all the time whenever you enter the public areas. Most people think of their cell phones as something that they “just could not live without.” Make sure you are informed about the potential health hazards associated with cell phone use that the cell phone

companies do not want you to know. While studies are not conclusive, scientists are beginning to suspect that cell phone use could contribute to everything from headache to brain cancer. This is because cell phones emit electromagnetic waves and small amounts of radiation. While research done in the 1990’s indicated that the radiation using a cell phone could expose you to is not really enough to do any damage, many experts are now abolishing that opinion. They recommend that, at the very least, children, tens and young adults avid using cell phones except in emergencies.



Nongovernmental Organization in Denmark

Danes pursue common interests in leisure, sports, and politics. Associations are essentially nongovernmental, originating in the late nineteenth century, when farmers and workers formed interest groups. Today Denmark has one of the highest proportions of association membership in the world. More than 90 percent of the population belongs to an organization, and more than 73 percent of the people have multiple memberships in more than three hundred thousand organizations. Organizations and associations play three important roles. First, they have been able to develop common interests and identities among different groups of people. Second, practical improvements in the form of production, increases in salary, and membership discounts have been achieved. Third, organizations participate in the political struggle for the distribution of values and goods in society. For example, charities use sophisticated public relations campaigns to raise funds and employ standard lobbying techniques with governments. Interest groups may be of political importance because of their ability to influence social and political outcomes.



E-waste: Dark Side of Digital Age

What happens to those ld computers once they’ve been abandoned for newer models? The refuse from discarded electronics products, also known as e-waste, often ends up in landfills instead of being recycled. And that means toxic substances like lead and mercury that are commonly used in these products can contaminate the land, water and air. The United States generates more e-waste than any other nation. Some of that waste is recycled. For example, steel, aluminum and copper are often stripped from outdated machines and reused in newer models. But even recycled parts come at a price. An estimated 50 to 80 percent of e-waste collected in the United States for recycling is exported to areas such as China or India or Pakistan, where workers taking apart the old machines are handling toxic chemicals that can pose serious health problems. Luckily, some manufacturers are beginning to assume greater responsibility for what happens to their products after they become out-of- date.



Children’s Health

It seems we have developed such a fast paced society of convenience that kids today don’t play outside much anymore. But they would rather stay inside and have things done for them. They spend

too much time inside on the sofa and neglect any kind of physical activity, which causes a state of being inactive and unhealthy. Inactive kids have a higher risk of becoming obese, having high blood pressure and a higher risk of heart disease. Along with being inactive, kids today don’t get enough personal interaction with other kids, causing them to have a lack of interpersonal skills. Besides, their parents and grandparents allow children to have everything they want. Parents’ spoiling only makes for an attitude of selfishness. To avid this situation, parents should encourage their kids to spend more time out o the house, such as playing basketball in a community basketball team.



Information Age

The Information Age means something different to everyone. In 1956 in the United States, researchers noticed that the number of people holding “white collar” jobs had just exceeded the number of people holding “blue collar” jobs. These researchers realized that this was an important change, as it was clear that the Industrial Age was coming to an end. As the Industrial Age ended, the newer times adopted the title of “the Information Age”. Of course, at that time relatively few jobs had much to do with computers and computer-related technology. What was occurring was steady trend away from people holding Industrial Age manufacturing jobs. An increasing number of people held jobs as clerks in stores, office workers, teachers, nurses, etc. the Western world was shifting into a service economy. Eventually, Information and Communication Technology became a significant part of the economy. Microcomputers were developed, and many business and industries were greatly changed by it.



Obesity

At the other end of the malnutrition scale, obesity is one of today’s most visible, yet most neglected, public health problems. Paradoxically, co-existing with under-nutrition, a global epidemic of overweight and obesity is taking over many parts of the world. If immediate action is not taken, millions will suffer from an array of serious health disorders. Obesity is a complex condition, one with serious social and psychological dimensions, that affects virtually all age and threatens to overwhelm both developed and developing countries. As of 2000, the number of obese adults is over 300 million. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the obesity epidemic is not restricted to industrialized societies. In developing countries, it is estimated that over 115 million people suffer from obesity-related problems. Generally, although men may have higher rates of overweight, women have higher rates of obesity. For both, obesity poses a major risk for serious diet- related non-communicable diseases, including stroke and certain forms of cancer.



Space Junk

Space junk, also known as space waste, is objects in orbit around Earth created by humans that no longer serve any useful purpose. They consist of everything from entire spent satellites to explosion fragment

s, deliberate insertion of small needles, and many other objects. As orbits often overlap, the space junk is a potential collision risk for spacecraft. The vast majority of pieces of space junk are small particles. Contact with these particles causes erosive damage. The majority of the damage can be eased by adding a thin layer of metal outside of the main spacecraft body. However, certain portions of many satellites cannot be protected in this way, the solar panels and windows for instance. If a collision with larger pieces occurs, many of the resulting fragments from the damaged spacecraft will also be in the 1 kilogram mass range. Consequently, these objects become an additional collision risk.



Customer Service

Good customer service is the lifeblood of any business. You can offer promotions and slash prices to bring in as many new customers as you want. But unless you can get some of those customers to come back, your business won’t be profitable for long. God customer service is all about bringing customers back. And about sending them away happy, happy enough to pass positive feed back about your business along t others, who may then try the product or service you offer for themselves and in heir turn become repeat customers. If you’re a good salesperson, you can sell anything to anyone once. But it will be your approach to customer service that determines whether or not you’ll ever be able to sell that person anything else. The essence of good customer service is forming a relationship with customers, a relationship that the individual customer feels that he would like to pursue.



Illiteracy in Africa

Illiteracy in Africa is at extremely high levels. 21 nations have adult literacy rates below 50% and overall 4 of every 10 Africans are illiterate. Achieving higher rates of literacy is a vital part of the effort to eradicate African poverty. But the relationship between the two is complex, because the effects of poverty are a major obstacle to literacy. Given the widespread poverty, few parents can afford to send their children to school. Raising literacy rates depends on governments making schools and programs for adult education available. Some governments are making a real effort to improve literacy. However, many government officials are either indifferent or corrupt, giving education a low priority, or the government efforts are poorly organized and implemented. Nongovernmental organizations can help, but they must depend on local governments t step up and become a partner, rather than an obstacle to progress.



AIDS

When AIDS first emerged, no one could have predicted how the epidemic would spread across the world and how many millions of lives it would change. There was no real idea what caused it and consequently n real idea how to protect against it. Now we know from bitter experience that AIDS is caused by the virus HIV, and that it can destroy families, communities and whole continents. However, experience has also s

hown us that the right approaches can and do result in lower national HIV infection rates and less suffering for those affected by the epidemic. Already, more than twenty-five million people around the world have died of AIDS-related diseases. 33 million people around the world are now living with HIV, and most of these are likely to die over the next decade or so. It is disappointing that the global numbers of people infected with HIV continue to rise, despite the fact that effective prevention strategies already exist.



Home- schooling

More and more parents are feeling that the schools are not up to a suitable standard required to meet their children’s needs. Therefore, home-schooling becomes an appealing prospect for parents who want to remain in control of their children’s learning. There are both benefits and drawbacks to home-schooling a child, but the positives seem to outweigh the negatives in the minds of parents. In UK home-schooling has increased in recent years as the gap between the best-and worst-performing schools has grown. Parents increasingly feel excluded from their children’s education, for schools have turned into examination factories. In schools, teaching to the test is the norm; instead of allowing children to explore their own creativity. Schools need to achieve good examination results in order to have their higher status recognized, which obviously has implications for the level of funding they receive. Hence, it would almost seem that students are seen as a means to an end, rather than as the whole reason for a school’s existence.



Mail Fraud

Mail fraud occurs when someone asks for something of value to be sent through the mail, promising something in return, then fails to deliver. Fraud can also be committed by wire, phone, or e-mail, but is only considered mail fraud when it involves things being sent by mail. This fraud can take the form of offering a product or service which is then not provided or offering employment that turns out to be a scam. It can also be offering a product or service for a price that is already provided for free by the government. Sometimes, you may receive an advertisement for something designed to look like an invoice. Some Internet domain registration providers are known for sending mail t owners of domains registered through competing companies, urging them to renew their domains. But in the process of renewing, the domain registration would be transferred to the provider sending the mail, often at a higher cost.



Lead Time

Lead time is the period between a customer’s order and delivery of the final product. A small order of a pre- existing item may only have a few hours’ lead time, but a larger order of custom-made parts may have a lead time of weeks, months or even longer. It all depends on a number of factors, from the time it takes to create the machinery to the speed of the delivery system. Lead time may change according to seasons or holidays or overall demand fo

r the product. Manufacturers are always looking for ways to improve the lead time on their products. Lead time can mean the difference between making the sale and watching a competitor sign the contract. If a company can deliver the product weeks ahead of the competition, it stands a better chance of receiving future orders. Because of this, management and labor teams routinely hold meetings to discuss lead time improvements.



Online Shopping

With just a click of the mouse, shoppers can buy nearly any product online, from groceries t cars, from insurance policies to home loans. The world of electronic commerce, also known as e-commerce, enables consumers to shop at thousands of online stores and pay for their purchases without leaving the comfort of home. Fr many, the Internet has taken the place of Saturday afternoon window shopping at the mall. Consumers expect merchants to not only make their products available on the Web, but to make payments a simple and secure process. However, the same things can go wrong shopping in cyberspace as in the real world. Sometimes it is simply a case of a computer bug or poor customer service. Other times, shoppers are cheated by clever scam artists. Therefore, online shoppers need to take sensible precautions to make their online shopping experiences enjoyable and safe.



Sight

Sight is very effective at giving exact information over considerable distances. If the viewed object is moving, it can tell us much about the speed and direction of this movement as well as allowing us to identify it. For all this to happen we need to see it. This means our eyes have to be looking in the correct direction. Light waves do not go around objects very well, so we cannot see an object if it is hidden behind another object. This des put limits on what sight can achieve. Sight is an easy sense to use, because during the day we are surrounded by light supplied by the sun. This light bounces off things and brings us information about them. However, when the sun sets on a cloudy night, the light is mostly gone, and then vision shall become less useful as a sense.



Aging Problems

UN has claimed that the number of people on the globe should as expected reach 9.2 billion in 2050, which will include elderly persons numbering 1 billion. One of the surprises is that population growth is most concentrated in the 60 plus age group, which is expected almost to triple. Whilst many regard the aging of the population as a triumph of a civilized and caring society, others see it as a major problem facing the community. The increasing aging population will cause the increase in the dependency ratio. This means that there will be more people claiming benefits such as state pensions, and less people working and paying income taxes. Thus, those in work will have to pay higher taxes. This could create disincentives to work and for firms to invest, therefore there could be a fall in productivity growth. The shortage of workers could push u

p wages, causing wage inflation.