A History of the Oreo Cookie

Many people have grown up with Oreo cookies. The twist or dunk debate has been around for decades, with one side claiming that the chocolate sandwich cookie is best separated into two halves and eaten as such and the other side claiming that the treats are meant to be enjoyed by dunking them straight into a glass of milk. Whatever camp you are a part of, it is safe to say that most find the cookie delicious. Oreos have become an icon of 20th-century culture. From Oreo-based dessert recipes spreading on the internet to festival favorites featuring the beloved cookie, it is clear that the world has a soft spot for this famous snack, and the cookie has only grown in popularity since it was invented in 1912, propelling it to the rank of best-selling cookie in the United States. Oreos Are Introduced In 1898, several baking companies merged to form the National Biscuit Company, also called Nabisco. This was the beginning of the corporation that would create the Oreo cookie. In 1902, Nabisco rolled out Barnums Animal Crackers for the first time, making them famous by selling them in a little box designed like a circus animal cage that featured an attached string so that the box could be hung on Christmas trees. In 1912, Nabisco had an idea for a new cookie, though it wasnt exactly its own—two chocolate disks with a creme filling in between had been done already by the Sunshine Biscuits company in 1908, which called the cookie Hydrox. While Nabisco has never named Hydrox as its inspiration, the Oreo cookie invented four years after the world was introduced to Hydrox closely resembled the biscuit that preceded it: two decorated chocolate discs with white creme sandwiched between them. Despite its potentially suspicious origination, the Oreo made a name for itself and quickly surpassed the popularity of its competitor. Nabisco made sure to file for a trademark on the new cookie soon after its creation on March 14, 1912. The request was granted on August 12, 1913. The Mysterious Name When the cookie was first introduced in 1912, it appeared as an Oreo Biscuit, which changed in 1921 to an Oreo Sandwich. There was another name change in 1937 to Oreo Creme Sandwich before the company settled on the name that was decided upon in 1974: Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookie. Despite the roller coaster of official name changes, most people have always referred to the cookie simply as an Oreo. So where did the Oreo part even come from? The people at Nabisco arent quite sure anymore. Some believe that the cookies name was taken from the French word for gold, or (the main color on early Oreo packaging). Others claim the name stemmed from the hill-shaped test version that never even made it to store shelves, inspiring the cookie prototype to be named the Greek word for mountain, oreo. Some speculate that the name is a combination of taking the re from cream and sandwiching it, just like the cookie, between the two os  in chocolate—making o-re-o. Still others offer the bare explanation that the cookie was named Oreo because it was short, fun, and easy to pronounce. Though the true naming process may never be revealed, that has not affected Oreo sales. As of 2019, it was estimated that 450 billion Oreo cookies have been sold since 1912, planting it firmly at the top of cookie sales and winning over the hearts of millions. Changes to the Oreo The original recipe and signature look of the Oreo has not changed much, but Nabisco has been pumping out limited new looks and flavors for years, right beside the classic. The company started selling various versions of the cookie as its popularity grew. In 1975, Nabisco released its celebrated Double Stuf Oreos. A few of the other most welcomed varieties and themes created over the years include: 1987: Fudge covered Oreos introduced 1991: Halloween Oreos introduced 1995: Christmas Oreos introduced Through ambitious new flavors of the cookie, the design of the chocolate discs has been a constant, outside of color changes. The wafer design that has stuck around for the longest and was brought into existence in 1952 has remained much the same since then. As far as the recipe of the Oreo goes, the delicious filling that has contributed to the success of the cookie has evolved very little. It was created by Nabiscos principal scientist  Sam Porcello, who is often referred to as Mr. Oreo. His recipe for the classic creme has been only slightly altered since 1912, outside of primarily limited-edition flavors. Nabisco and the world agree that the Oreo recipe and design are far from broken, so there is no need to fix them. Oreos are well-loved just as they are and are sure to be around for many years to come.

How Does Frankenstein Benefit from Walton as a Narrator

How does the novel Frankenstein benefit from Walton as a narrator? By Alex Hewitt The beginning and ending of the novel Frankenstein are written in epistolary form as a series of letters from Robert Walton, to his sister. The letters are unusual as they contain very little information about Walton’s sister and mostly detail Walton’s exploits in exploring the Arctic in search of the North-West Passage, in this way resembling journal entries instead of letters. While Walton spends many pages explaining his adventures in a â€Å"land surpassing in wonders and beauty,† the few questions asked to his sister are either rhetorical such as â€Å"do you understand this feeling?† which is also condescending, snidely suggesting his sisters incapacity to†¦show more content†¦As well as this, as noted by Nora Cook in A Companion to the Gothic, the combination of the above with the confusing circumstances as the actual writing of the novel such as if Walton made it home, did his sister edit his letter and who added the finishing touches such as â€Å"17-?† As Cook states, â€Å"there can be no answers to these questions and the reader is never sure whether these are the proper ones to ask.† These stacked layers of unreliable narration mean the novel can be the multi-faceted novel that it has become. On learning that Shelley’s original intention was for the novel to be a word of mouth ghost story, starting with the lines â€Å"it was a dreary night in November† that changed over time, a conclusion can be reached that the use of unreliable narration is important because it leaves the novel up for interpretation on a number of features and with numerous possible meanings. For example it could be seen as anything from an exploration of Shelley’s post-natal depression to a warning against the dangers of aggressive science and ambition, a classic gothic novel to the first science fiction novel ever written, a massive religious analogy or the importance of appearance. When the reader is bogged down with so many layers of potential lies, when they will never know if what they areShow MoreRelatedRomantic Elements Of Frankenstein1358 Words   |  6 PagesFra nkenstein; or The Modern Prometheus, is a novel written by English author Mary Shelley in 1816. Originally intended as a gothic ghost story while on retreat in Geneva, Shelley’s novel would later become the groundwork for modern science fiction and horror. As a romantic piece, Frankenstein is a novel intended to entertain, to scare, and to bring a sense of unease to the reader. Culturally and historically, however, it acts as a romantic commentary on the transition from the Enlightenment periodRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Frankenstein And The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner 1131 Words   |  5 PagesEnglish IV AP 11 September 2015 The Burden of Knowledge, An Analysis of Gothic Elements in Frankenstein and The Rime of The Ancient Mariner Henry Wadsworth once said: â€Å"Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.† Such untold sorrows are what plague two very distinct characters in two very distinct works of literature. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein tells of Victor Frankenstein’s torment as he is plagued by his creation; Samuel Coleridge’sRead MoreMary Shelleys Frankenstein Essay2290 Words   |  10 PagesMary Shelleys Frankenstein Mary Shelley is an author who wrote the novel of Frankenstein. Mary Shelley herself in her life, experienced many deaths of close friends and family. When she was first born her mother died, furthermore Mary had a baby, who died 12 days later and her husband Percy Shelly drowned. Maybe it was these experiences, which led Mary Shelley to write such a novel of great horror published in 1818. Frankenstein itself is called the modern PrometheusRead MoreFrankenstein Study Guide14107 Words   |  57 PagesTHE GLENCOE LITERATURE LIBRARY Study Guide for Frankenstein by Mary Shelley i To the Teachern The Glencoe Literature Library presents full-length novels and plays bound together with shorter selections of various genres that relate by theme or topic to the main reading. Each work in the Library has a two-part Study Guide that contains a variety of resources for both you and your students. Use the Guide to plan your instruction of the work and enrich your classroom presentations. InRead MoreFrankenstein, By Mary Shelley3475 Words   |  14 PagesMary Shelley is best known for her gothic horror classic Frankenstein. Frankenstein has been heralded by many as the first science fiction book, and Frankenstein’s monster had become an integral character in the public’s cultural pantheon. However, Mary Shelley’s novel is also a cautionary tale of the dangers of intellectual curiosity. Robert Walton, the arctic explorer Victor Frankenstein meets in his final days, serves as a cautionary tale. By embarking on his arctic exploration mission, he placesRead MoreThemes of Frankenstein3337 Words   |  14 PagesThemes of Frankenstein Frequently, literature is intended to convey a significant idea or theme to it s readers regarding events that occur in our everyday existence. Occasionally these ideas appear in the context of straightforward characterization, but in some literatures, such as Marry Shelley s Frankenstein, these themes come to us in the guise of monsters, goliaths, dragons, gods, and myriads of fantasy-like components that express meaning in ways impossible within the boundaries of realityRead MoreScience May Be Interesting To Most, But Its Development1781 Words   |  8 Pagesdevelopment has the potential to be absolutely terrifying. We are warned of this in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This extremely famous novel is about a scientist named Victor Frankenstein who creates a grotesque creature, using electricity. Many assume the creature’s name to be Frankenstein as it may be depicted in movies but this is false, as the scientist’s name is Frankenstein and the monster does not have a name. New developing science allows Victor to create this creature which, as we learn throughoutRead MoreEssay on The Gothic Genre and What it Entails6177 Words   |  25 PagesI think that the superior, enduring Gothic texts definitely reflect political ideal and contemporaneous social features which touched the vast majority of people. This is especially apparent if one traces the maturation of the form from Walpole (1764) to Mary Shelley (1818) and Maturin (1820). (For example William Godwins Caleb Williams (1794)had an overt political message intended to expose the inadequacy of Things as they are). During the development of the GothicRead MoreFigurative Language and the Canterbury Tales13472 Words   |  54 Pagesverses together, to make lines more memorable, and for humorous effect. †¢ Already American vessels had been searched, seized, and sunk. -John F. Kennedy †¢ I should like to hear him fly with the high fields/ And wake to the farm forever fled from the childless land. -Dylan Thomas, â€Å"Fern Hill† 3. allusion: A casual reference in literature to a person, place, event, or another passage of literature, often without explicit identification. Allusions can originate in mythology, biblical references

Decision Making Across the Organization Free Essays

The Martinez Company has decided to introduce a new product and would like to evaluate the costs of manufacturing through capital intensive and labor intensive manufacturing methods to determine which of the two methods to employ. The values to be used in the evaluation for capital intensive manufacturing are direct materials at $5 per unit, direct labor at $6 per unit, a variable overhead of $3 per unit, and fixed manufacturing costs of $2,508,000. The values for material, labor, and overhead are summed to find the total variable cost of $14. We will write a custom essay sample on Decision Making Across the Organization or any similar topic only for you Order Now The labor intensive values are direct materials at $5.50 per unit, direct labor at $8 per unit, a variable overhead of $4.50 per unit, and fixed manufacturing costs of $1,538,000. The research department of Martinez recommended an introductory price unit sales price of $30. Incremental selling expenses are estimated to be $502,000 annually plus $2 for each unit sold regardless of the method used to manufacture. Capital Intensive To calculate capital intensive estimated break-even point in annual unit sales of the new product the contribution margin per unit and contribution margin per ratio are necessary. The equation for contribution margin per unit is Selling Price + Variable Cost, or $30 + $14, for a contribution margin per unit price of $16. The equation for contribution margin ration is Contribution Margin per Unit / Selling Price, or $16/$30, for a contribution margin ratio of 53%. The break-even point in units is calculated by dividing the fixed costs by the contribution margin per unit value, $2,508,000 / $16 = 156750 units as the break-even point. The fixed costs divided by the contribution margin ratio, $2,508,000 / 53% = $4,702,500 break-even point in dollars. Labor Intensive To calculate capital intensive estimated break-even point in annual unit sales of the new product the contribution margin per unit and contribution  margin per ratio are necessary. The equation for contribution margin per unit is Selling Price + Variable Cost, or $30 + $18, for a contribution margin per unit price of $12. The equation for contribution margin ratio is Contribution Margin per Unit / Selling Price, or $12/$30, for a contribution margin ratio of 40%. The break-even point in units is calculated by dividing the fixed costs by the contribution margin per unit value, $1,538,000 / $12 = 128,167 units as the break-even point. The fixed costs divided by the contribution margin ratio, $1,538,000 / 40% = $3,845,000 break-even point in dollars. Unit Sales Volume of Indifference The volume of unit sales at which the Martinez Company would be indifferent between the two manufacturing methods is calculated as Sales = Variable Costs + Fixed Costs + Net Income. The value for sales is equivalent to the sales price, $30, multiplied by the number of units sold. Variable costs of $14 for capital intensive and $18 for labor intensive are also multiplied by the number of units sold. Fixed costs were provided at $2,508,000 for capital intensive and $1,538,000 for labor intensive. Net income is assumed to be $0. The equation values for 180,000 units under capital intensive manufacturing and 240,000 under labor intensive manufacturing is the volume of units for each method to equal sales of $2,880,000, the point at which the annual unit sales volume would be indifferent. Conclusion Evaluating the costs of manufacturing help management to make crucial decisions about methods of manufacturing that will result in profit for the business. Evaluating the capital intensive manufacturing method versus the labor intensive method provides the values necessary to make business decisions. The circumstances in which the Martinez Company would employ a capital intensive manufacturing method for the new product, based on the numbers provided in the scenario, would be if the contribution margin and per unit cost were cheaper than the labor intensive values. In this scenario, the labor intensive values offer a smaller break-even point value for units and dollars than the capital intensive method of manufacturing. How to cite Decision Making Across the Organization, Papers Decision Making Across the Organization Free Essays The Martinez Company has decided to introduce a new product and would like to evaluate the costs of manufacturing through capital intensive and labor intensive manufacturing methods to determine which of the two methods to employ. The values to be used in the evaluation for capital intensive manufacturing are direct materials at $5 per unit, direct labor at $6 per unit, a variable overhead of $3 per unit, and fixed manufacturing costs of $2,508,000. The values for material, labor, and overhead are summed to find the total variable cost of $14. We will write a custom essay sample on Decision Making Across the Organization or any similar topic only for you Order Now The labor intensive values are direct materials at $5.50 per unit, direct labor at $8 per unit, a variable overhead of $4. 50 per unit, and fixed manufacturing costs of $1,538,000. The research department of Martinez recommended an introductory price unit sales price of $30. Incremental selling expenses are estimated to be $502,000 annually plus $2 for each unit sold regardless of the method used to manufacture. Capital Intensive To calculate capital intensive estimated break-even point in annual unit sales of the new product the contribution margin per unit and contribution margin per ratio are necessary. The equation for contribution margin per unit is Selling Price + Variable Cost, or $30 + $14, for a contribution margin per unit price of $16. The equation for contribution margin ration is Contribution Margin per Unit / Selling Price, or $16/$30, for a contribution margin ratio of 53%. The break-even point in units is calculated by dividing the fixed costs by the contribution margin per unit value, $2,508,000 / $16 = 156750 units as the break-even point. The fixed costs divided by the contribution margin ratio, $2,508,000 / 53% = $4,702,500 break-even point in dollars. Labor Intensive To calculate capital intensive estimated break-even point in annual unit sales of the new product the contribution margin per unit and contribution margin per ratio are necessary. The equation for contribution margin per unit is Selling Price + Variable Cost, or $30 + $18, for a contribution margin per unit price of $12. The equation for contribution margin ratio is Contribution Margin per Unit / Selling Price, or $12/$30, for a contribution margin ratio of 40%. The break-even point in units is calculated by dividing the fixed costs by the contribution margin per unit value, $1,538,000 / $12 = 128,167 units as the break-even point. The fixed costs divided by the contribution margin ratio, $1,538,000 / 40% = $3,845,000 break-even point in dollars. Unit Sales Volume of Indifference The volume of unit sales at which the Martinez Company would be indifferent between the two manufacturing methods is calculated as Sales = Variable Costs + Fixed Costs + Net Income. The value for sales is equivalent to the sales price, $30, multiplied by the number of units sold. Variable costs of $14 for capital intensive and $18 for labor intensive are also multiplied by the number of units sold. Fixed costs were provided at $2,508,000 for capital intensive and $1,538,000 for labor intensive. Net income is assumed to be $0. The equation values for 180,000 units under capital intensive manufacturing and 240,000 under labor intensive manufacturing is the volume of units for each method to equal sales of $2,880,000, the point at which the annual unit sales volume would be indifferent. Conclusion Evaluating the costs of manufacturing help management to make crucial decisions about methods of manufacturing that will result in profit for the business. Evaluating the capital intensive manufacturing method versus the labor intensive method provides the values necessary to make business decisions. The circumstances in which the Martinez Company would employ a capital intensive manufacturing method for the new product, based on the numbers provided in the scenario, would be if the contribution margin and per unit cost were cheaper than the labor intensive values. In this scenario, the labor intensive values offer a smaller break-even point value for units and dollars than the capital intensive method of manufacturing. How to cite Decision Making Across the Organization, Papers

Decision Making Across the Organization Free Essays

The Martinez Company has decided to introduce a new product and would like to evaluate the costs of manufacturing through capital intensive and labor intensive manufacturing methods to determine which of the two methods to employ. The values to be used in the evaluation for capital intensive manufacturing are direct materials at $5 per unit, direct labor at $6 per unit, a variable overhead of $3 per unit, and fixed manufacturing costs of $2,508,000. The values for material, labor, and overhead are summed to find the total variable cost of $14. We will write a custom essay sample on Decision Making Across the Organization or any similar topic only for you Order Now The labor intensive values are direct materials at $5.50 per unit, direct labor at $8 per unit, a variable overhead of $4.50 per unit, and fixed manufacturing costs of $1,538,000. The research department of Martinez recommended an introductory price unit sales price of $30. Incremental selling expenses are estimated to be $502,000 annually plus $2 for each unit sold regardless of the method used to manufacture. Capital Intensive To calculate capital intensive estimated break-even point in annual unit sales of the new product the contribution margin per unit and contribution margin per ratio are necessary. The equation for contribution margin per unit is Selling Price + Variable Cost, or $30 + $14, for a contribution margin per unit price of $16. The equation for contribution margin ration is Contribution Margin per Unit / Selling Price, or $16/$30, for a contribution margin ratio of 53%. The break-even point in units is calculated by dividing the fixed costs by the contribution margin per unit value, $2,508,000 / $16 = 156750 units as the break-even point. The fixed costs divided by the contribution margin ratio, $2,508,000 / 53% = $4,702,500 break-even point in dollars. Labor Intensive To calculate capital intensive estimated break-even point in annual unit sales of the new product the contribution margin per unit and contribution  margin per ratio are necessary. The equation for contribution margin per unit is Selling Price + Variable Cost, or $30 + $18, for a contribution margin per unit price of $12. The equation for contribution margin ratio is Contribution Margin per Unit / Selling Price, or $12/$30, for a contribution margin ratio of 40%. The break-even point in units is calculated by dividing the fixed costs by the contribution margin per unit value, $1,538,000 / $12 = 128,167 units as the break-even point. The fixed costs divided by the contribution margin ratio, $1,538,000 / 40% = $3,845,000 break-even point in dollars. Unit Sales Volume of Indifference The volume of unit sales at which the Martinez Company would be indifferent between the two manufacturing methods is calculated as Sales = Variable Costs + Fixed Costs + Net Income. The value for sales is equivalent to the sales price, $30, multiplied by the number of units sold. Variable costs of $14 for capital intensive and $18 for labor intensive are also multiplied by the number of units sold. Fixed costs were provided at $2,508,000 for capital intensive and $1,538,000 for labor intensive. Net income is assumed to be $0. The equation values for 180,000 units under capital intensive manufacturing and 240,000 under labor intensive manufacturing is the volume of units for each method to equal sales of $2,880,000, the point at which the annual unit sales volume would be indifferent. Conclusion Evaluating the costs of manufacturing help management to make crucial decisions about methods of manufacturing that will result in profit for the business. Evaluating the capital intensive manufacturing method versus the labor intensive method provides the values necessary to make business decisions. The circumstances in which the Martinez Company would employ a capital intensive manufacturing method for the new product, based on the numbers provided in the scenario, would be if the contribution margin and per unit cost were cheaper than the labor intensive values. In this scenario, the labor intensive values offer a smaller break-even point value for units and dollars than the capital intensive method of manufacturing. How to cite Decision Making Across the Organization, Papers Decision Making Across the Organization Free Essays The Martinez Company has decided to introduce a new product and would like to evaluate the costs of manufacturing through capital intensive and labor intensive manufacturing methods to determine which of the two methods to employ. The values to be used in the evaluation for capital intensive manufacturing are direct materials at $5 per unit, direct labor at $6 per unit, a variable overhead of $3 per unit, and fixed manufacturing costs of $2,508,000. The values for material, labor, and overhead are summed to find the total variable cost of $14. We will write a custom essay sample on Decision Making Across the Organization or any similar topic only for you Order Now The labor intensive values are direct materials at $5.50 per unit, direct labor at $8 per unit, a variable overhead of $4. 50 per unit, and fixed manufacturing costs of $1,538,000. The research department of Martinez recommended an introductory price unit sales price of $30. Incremental selling expenses are estimated to be $502,000 annually plus $2 for each unit sold regardless of the method used to manufacture. Capital Intensive To calculate capital intensive estimated break-even point in annual unit sales of the new product the contribution margin per unit and contribution margin per ratio are necessary. The equation for contribution margin per unit is Selling Price + Variable Cost, or $30 + $14, for a contribution margin per unit price of $16. The equation for contribution margin ration is Contribution Margin per Unit / Selling Price, or $16/$30, for a contribution margin ratio of 53%. The break-even point in units is calculated by dividing the fixed costs by the contribution margin per unit value, $2,508,000 / $16 = 156750 units as the break-even point. The fixed costs divided by the contribution margin ratio, $2,508,000 / 53% = $4,702,500 break-even point in dollars. Labor Intensive To calculate capital intensive estimated break-even point in annual unit sales of the new product the contribution margin per unit and contribution margin per ratio are necessary. The equation for contribution margin per unit is Selling Price + Variable Cost, or $30 + $18, for a contribution margin per unit price of $12. The equation for contribution margin ratio is Contribution Margin per Unit / Selling Price, or $12/$30, for a contribution margin ratio of 40%. The break-even point in units is calculated by dividing the fixed costs by the contribution margin per unit value, $1,538,000 / $12 = 128,167 units as the break-even point. The fixed costs divided by the contribution margin ratio, $1,538,000 / 40% = $3,845,000 break-even point in dollars. Unit Sales Volume of Indifference The volume of unit sales at which the Martinez Company would be indifferent between the two manufacturing methods is calculated as Sales = Variable Costs + Fixed Costs + Net Income. The value for sales is equivalent to the sales price, $30, multiplied by the number of units sold. Variable costs of $14 for capital intensive and $18 for labor intensive are also multiplied by the number of units sold. Fixed costs were provided at $2,508,000 for capital intensive and $1,538,000 for labor intensive. Net income is assumed to be $0. The equation values for 180,000 units under capital intensive manufacturing and 240,000 under labor intensive manufacturing is the volume of units for each method to equal sales of $2,880,000, the point at which the annual unit sales volume would be indifferent. Conclusion Evaluating the costs of manufacturing help management to make crucial decisions about methods of manufacturing that will result in profit for the business. Evaluating the capital intensive manufacturing method versus the labor intensive method provides the values necessary to make business decisions. The circumstances in which the Martinez Company would employ a capital intensive manufacturing method for the new product, based on the numbers provided in the scenario, would be if the contribution margin and per unit cost were cheaper than the labor intensive values. In this scenario, the labor intensive values offer a smaller break-even point value for units and dollars than the capital intensive method of manufacturing. How to cite Decision Making Across the Organization, Papers

Using the Balanced Scorecard at the United States Postal Service free essay sample

In response to the key issues for discussion question one; let’s first start out by defining what the USPS strategic goal areas of interest are. The â€Å"Voice of the Employee (VOE)† was one of the first strategic areas of focus deemed most important due to the past workplace violence at the post office. The VOE placed the emphasis on providing safety and security in the workplace and improving employee relations. Our stated in our text, â€Å"Researchers have repeatedly demonstrated that when service worker satisfaction is high, customer satisfaction is high, and that when job satisfaction is low, customer satisfaction is low. (Evans Lindsay, 2011) Utilizing the balanced scorecard approach, the USPS gauged the VOE by measuring safety based on the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Employee satisfaction was measured by employee surveys which were conducted annually but could be traced on a monthly basis by each unit. The USPS realized that it must improve employee satisfaction in order to improve its internal processes. We will write a custom essay sample on Using the Balanced Scorecard at the United States Postal Service or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This was accomplished by providing training and growing their employees professionally. The second element of the balanced score card was the â€Å"Voice of the Business (VOB)† which focused on the â€Å"Breakthrough Productivity Initiative†. The VOB was separated into two areas which were represented by a measurement in productivity and another in revenue generation. These areas were good indicators of whether internal processes were improving which would have been a direct result of improved employee satisfaction. Lastly, the â€Å"Voice of the Customer (VOC)† was considered. The VOC focused on providing timely and reliable delivery. In order to track this strategy a set of delivery service measurements systems were created. The VOC is a term used to describe the in-depth process of capturing a customers expectations, preferences and aversions. The USPS strategy was alignment of the three strategies which would lead to the voices of the customer and the employee dictating what the voice of the business would be. By achieving customer satisfaction, they could expect the desired financial outcome which in the case of the USPS is to provide sufficient revenue to support their mission of universal delivery service. In response to question two of the key issues for discussion, the USPS could increase its customer satisfaction by reviewing its customer satisfaction at individual Post Offices. I often dread going to the post office as my experience has been one of long lines and poor customer service. As with any other measurement, one should ask the following questions: What is the nature of the business? What do the customers need and want? How do you we get employees committed to the vision? How do you get the organization committed to the employees? These questions are addressed at the organizational level but I do not believe they are addressed at the local office level. It would be beneficial to obtain the answers to these questions and then create a local customer satisfaction survey. Based on these results, you can possibly come up with new processes that would reduce the queue time and improve customer service. You could set up a system that would gauge customer service by whether or not the customer is greeted within a set amount of time when entering the facility. You could also encourage eye contact and a positive attitude by making employees greet customers with a smile. Positive eye contact could be encouraged by making the employees annotate the customer’s eye color. It may also be beneficial to have the delivery man/ women to actually hand deliver say one out of every twenty pieces of mail so as to personalize the service that they are rendering. This personalization will go a long way in improving customer satisfaction. Lastly we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the balanced scorecard (BSC) approach. The balanced scorecard approach was developed in order to aide organizations in measuring performance and strategies that are not normally measured in the traditional way that financial assets are measured. A great advantage of the BSC is the ability to measure not only the financial but also the non-financial measures. According to the BMA Group Pty Ltd. , the strategic management system aides in accomplishing critical management processes like (The BMA Group, 2004): †¢Clarify and gain consensus about vision and strategy Communicate strategic objective, performance measures and drivers at all levels †¢Link strategic objective to targets and annual budgets †¢Identify and launch strategic initiatives †¢Enhance periodic systematic strategic reviews †¢Obtain feedback to learn about and improve strategy Another advantage is that it ensures that by taking in the four different aspects, that the senior managements are taking a more balanced view about the performan ce of the organization. It also ensures that the short, medium and long-term views are managed in a perpetual and cohesive manner. It also aligns the top level strategies with those of middle management ensuring that they are clearly connected and appropriately focused. The BSC if properly created will ensure that the organization’s performance reporting system is focused on the things that will give it the competitive advantage both in the short and long term and by realizing value for its stakeholders. Some disadvantages include the fact that the BSC is not a quick fix and requires a considerable amount of time and effort as well as financial investment to develop it. Each BSC must be custom fit for an organization and cannot be compared â€Å"apples to apples† against another organization BSC. In order for the BSC approach to work, you will need support from everyone in the organization in order for it to work making strategy everyone’s job. Bibliography Evans, J. R. , Lindsay, W. M. (2011). Managing for Quality and Performance Excellence. Mason, Ohio: South-Western Cengage Learning. The BMA Group. (2004). Balanced scorecard background and key performance measures. Retrieved October 10, 2004, from The BMA Group Pty Ltd Online: http://www. bma. com. au/4/bsc_background. asp

Morality of Zoos Essay Example

Morality of Zoos Paper Almost each and every one of us has grown up with fond childhood memories of visiting the local zoo amongst family and friends. After all, where else can one see animals from all over the world in one place? In the midst of all the fun and enjoyment we have all experienced from zoos, we have failed to take into account the life of the things that we are so excited about seeing there – the animals. Each and every day, the animals enclosed in zoos for human entertainment are exposed to abuse, cruelty, and most importantly stress due to an unnatural living environment, creating a collection of unhappy animals. In this essay, I will also explore other examples of zoos in which animals are used for paid human entertainment such as circuses and aqua parks, where creatures like dolphins are dumped into a small glass pool and forced to perform tricks for merely human satisfaction. This essay will also explore acceptable forms of animal zoos; ones that are used solely for the purpose of breeding and conserving highly endangered species. While it is true that zoos can sometimes be beneficial, and used to aid animals in conservation and breeding, the sad reality is that zoos confine wild animals into tiny, artificial habitats and expose them to great amounts of stress, cruelty and abuse for the purpose of profit and human entertainment. For this reason, modern zoos are immoral and should only be allowed to exist if they are large-scale conservation centers used to aid in the preservation of endangered species. Zoos have become a very hot topic of controversy in today’s world. We will write a custom essay sample on Morality of Zoos specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Morality of Zoos specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Morality of Zoos specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It is common knowledge that zoos are not the natural habitats of animals. Animals around the world are held captive and kidnapped from their natural life for the duration of their lives solely for the purpose of our viewing pleasure. Zoos can be defined as â€Å"public parks, which display animals, primarily for the purposes of recreation or education,† (Jamieson, Dale). The first modern American zoos were created in Philadelphia and Cincinnati in the 1870s. Today in the United States, there are hundreds of zoos that are visited by millions of people every year. Jamieson, Dale). â€Å"Iron-barred concrete-floored cages† and animals behind bars (Millar, Royce, and Cameron Houston) is a typical sight at many popular zoos. They vary from â€Å"roadside menageries run by hucksters, to elaborate zoological parks staffed by trained scientists† (Jamieson, Dale). Other popular forms of zoos are aqua parks and circuses. Aqua parks such as the Sea World amusement park in F lorida (Singer, Peter) are home to many animals such as whales and dolphins, which are held in captivity and forced to perform tricks and shows for public entertainment. Animals in captivity are forced to abandon all their natural characteristics and instincts. â€Å"It is possible to visit zoos and see bored animals pacing back and forth in cages, with nothing to do but wait for the next meal† (Singer, Peter). Regular meal times means that they no longer have the need to hunt for survival. While this may sound like a good thing, there are a few things to take into account. The first is that the zoo animals, all of which are born natural hunters, will no longer be able to survive and fend for themselves if they are released back into the wild (Zoos: Imprisonment or Preservation). The second is the degree of confinement which zoo animals are forced to live under in their small cages and aquariums. To take this idea into perspective, imagine the world’s fastest animal, the cheetah. When it is crammed in a cage, which no matter how large can never compare to the vast size of the wilderness, the cheetah is unable to run at the fast speeds that make it unique. In the long run, confinement will cause the cheetah’s natural running skills to wear away (Zoos: Imprisonment or Preservation). The same principle can be applied to sea animals confined in aqua parks. No tank, no matter how large can come close to meeting the needs of animals who spend their lives in social groups swimming long distances in the ocean† (Singer, Peter). Taking animals out of their natural habitats, transporting them great distances and keeping them in alienated environments in which their liberty is restricted are examples of how animals taken from the wild and confined in zoos are deprived of many things like gathering their own food, developing their own social orders and behaving in ways natural to them (Jamieson, Dale). Studies have shown that the artificial environment of zoos can create intrinsic animal welfare problems such as self-mutilation, feeding disorders, stereotypical behavior like pacing, neck twisting and rocking, reproductive disorders and physiological disorders (Zoos: Imprisonment or Preservation). A lot of the time, it is typical for an animal to experience these without the public noticing. An example of an animal exhibiting this behavior was a polar bear in the Dublin zoo that howed signs of stress and boredom. Locked in a small cage, the polar bear had nothing to do all day but walk from one side of the enclosure to the other, also known as pacing. Eventually, the animal was moved to a much larger home in the Czech Republic (Zoos: Imprisonment or Preservation). This is evidence that while we may think pacing is a normal behaviour for animals in zoos, the truth is that we don’t know any better and what we think is customary is actually very stressful and harmful to the zoo animals. Contrary to popular belief that zoos are very friendly environments, many people don’t know that â€Å"since 1990, 42 people have been killed and 100 others injured by elephants worldwide† (Zoos: Imprisonment or Preservation). A recent article by philosopher Peter Singer in The Guardian provides a clear example of the stress animals are put through. An orca whale named Tilly; acting out of anger of being held captive in a sterile concrete tank at Florida’s SeaWorld grabbed a trainer, pulled her underwater and killed her. Tilly had also been previously involved in two other human deaths at SeaWorld. In addition, one of Tilly’s offspring, which was sold to an amusement park in Spain, also killed a trainer. There have also been many other instances of orcas involved in deaths (Singer, Peter). â€Å"We will never know exactly what was going on in Tilly’s mind, but we do know that he has been in captivity since he was about two years old – he was captured of the east coast of Iceland in 1983. Orcas are social mammals, and he would have been living with his mother and other relatives in a pod. It is reasonable to suppose that the sudden separation was traumatic for Tilly† (Singer, Peter). It has been argued that circuses, especially those on the road, are even worse places for animals. Their living conditions are said to be â€Å"deplorable† (Singer, Peter), particularly in travelling circuses where animal cages have to be extremely small in order to be able to go on the road. Furthermore, circuses have been known to be brutal because â€Å"training animals to perform tricks often involves starvation and cruelty. Undercover investigations have repeatedly shown animals being beaten and given electric shocks† (Singer, Peter). Countries such as Austria, Costa Rica, Denmark, Israel, India and Sweden have banned or severely restricted the use of wild animals in circuses (Singer, Peter). The conditions animals are exposed to in circus environments clearly lead to the intrinsic welfare problems described earlier. An example of this was seen in Brazil, where â€Å"a movement to ban wild animals from circuses stared after hungry lions managed to grab and devour a small boy† (Singer, Peter). The most common benefits of zoos are amusement, education, and the preservation of species. Amusement was certainly an important reason for the establishment of the early zoos, and it remains an important function of contemporary zoos as well† (Jamieson, Dale). The fact remains that most people visit zoos in order to be entertained. Unfortunately, zoos must provide amusement to the public in order to stay profitable. Even though entertaining the public is viewed as a very important function of zoos, it cannot be justified as a reason to keep wild animals imprisoned and held in captivity. The second reason for having zoos is education. The idea that education is a big part of having zoos is â€Å"part of the commercial entertainment industry† (Singer, Peter). â€Å"The most important lesson they teach impressionable young minds is that it is acceptable to keep animals in captivity for human amusement† (Singer, Peter). This is the exact opposite of the attitudes we should be embedding in the young minds of children. Of course some learning takes place in zoos. However, the very lessons being learned about the physical and mental states of animals being held captive are certainly not beneficial, and should not require animals to be held captive. Furthermore, similar educational experiences can be achieved through films and lectures. Documentaries such as The Life of Animals and The Blue Planet are known to be very educational and can in fact provide a better understanding of animals in their true, natural habitats. Observing animals in their natural surroundings will also allow for a better understanding of survival tactics, hunting, and the food chain, all of which are abandoned as soon as a wild animal is brought into a zoo. The final reason for having zoos is that they preserve soon-to-be extinct species, and put breeding programs in place to re-populate the species. There are several problems associated with zoo breeding programs. As previously mentioned, captive animals have very different traits than the ones of surviving animals in the wild. The lack of genetic diversity among the captive animals can create an enormous problem in breeding; more particularly it conflicts with Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest. Perhaps the biggest problem with zoo breeding programs is that they created unwanted animals. In certain species, only a few males can service an entire herd of animals in reproduction. All the extra males are unnecessary to zoos and become a financial burden (Jamieson, Dale). â€Å"Some of these animals are sold and wind up in the hands of individuals and institutions which lack proper facilities† (Jamieson, Dale). Others end up shot and killed by hunters and poachers in private camps. â€Å"Ninety-five percent of animals that are kept in zoos aren’t endangered† (Zoos: Imprisonment or Preservation). With preservation of soon-to-be extinct species also comes the debate whether it really is better for animals to live in the artificial environments that we create for them, as opposed to becoming extinct. Is it really better to confine a few hapless Mountain Gorillas in a zoo than to permit the species to become extinct? † (Jamieson, Dale). The answer to this question may be obvious to many, however, in doing this, are we not using the animals as â€Å"vehicles for their genes†? (Jamieson, Dale). In preserving extinct species, we are e ssentially creating a new species that can only survive in artificial zoo habitats. Even if the above-mentioned problems were non-existent, the current system of zoos does not provide a suitable environment for the preservation of endangered species. The reason for this is that of the little breeding programs that zoos offer, they only breed animals that are not endangered. â€Å"Many of the major breeding programs are run in special facilities which have been established for that purpose. They are often located in remote places, far from the attention of zoo-goers† (Jamieson, Dale). For example, the Bronx Zoo operates its Rare Animal Survival Centre far away on St. Catherine’s Island off the coast of Georgia. In conclusion, taking animals out of the wild and placing them in captivity in zoos affects their welfare and causes the animals unnecessary stress and anger. This disruption of their natural lifestyle has caused many animals to fatally injure or kill humans in an attempt to release some of the anger caused by their confinement in small, artificial habitats. Even though it is true that zoos provide amusement and entertainment, education, even though animals are not in their natural environment and learning may be distorted, and small-scale preservation, the above-mentioned reasons for having a zoo do not outweigh the detrimental affects captivity has on a wild animal. Under no circumstance should the amusement and entertainment of humans be a eason to put animals through stress and deprive them of their natural skills and environment. Even though some may believe that soon are beneficial for education, they are overlooking the fact that animals held captive in zoos are not in their natural habitats; therefore they do not behave as they normally would in the wild, making learning biased. Finally, even though it is a controversial topic, I b elieve preservation should be the only reason to keep animals captive. However, this cannot be done in the zoos we have established today. Preservation of endangered species can only be done in large-scale off-shore reserves, which are far away from the public and allow the animals to roam more freely and practice their natural skills. Works Cited Animal Cruelty Zoos. Vegan Peace. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. http://www. veganpeace. com/animal_cruelty/zoos. htm. BBC Ethics Animal Ethics: Animals for Entertainment. BBC. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. http://www. bbc. co. uk/ethics/animals/using/entertainment_1. shtml. Birth, Accident Of. Mortality as Morality. Microkhan by Brendan I. Koerner. 14 Aug. 2009. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. lt;http://www. microkhan. com/2009/08/14/mortality-as-morality/. Jamieson, Dale. Against Zoos. The Animal Rights Library. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. http://www. animal-rights-library. com/texts-m/jamieson01. htm. Kuehn, Bridget M. Is It Ethical to Keep Animals in Zoos? December 1, 2002. American Veterinary Medical Association. 1 Dec. 2002. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. http://www. avma. org/onlnews/javma/dec02/021201d. asp. Millar, Royce, and Cameron Houston. Animal Rights and Wrongs In Depth Theage. com. au. The Age Business, World Breaking News | Melbourne, Australia. The Age, 19 Jan. 008. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. http://www. theage. com. au/news/in-depth/animal-rights-and-wrongs/2008/01/18/1200620207184. html? page=fullpage. Singer, Peter. Let Wild Animals Be Wild | Peter Singer | Comment Is Free | Guardian. co. uk. Latest News, Sport and Comment from the Guardian | The Guardian. 8 Mar. 2010. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. http://www. guardian. co. uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2010/mar/08/wild-animals-captivity-seaworld-orca. Zoos: Imprisonment or Preservation? The Whyville Times. 4 July 2003. Web. 19 Nov. 2011. http://j. whyville. net/smmk/whytimes/article? id=2941.

My persuasive speech against underage drinking Essays

My persuasive speech against underage drinking Essays My persuasive speech against underage drinking Paper My persuasive speech against underage drinking Paper Essay Topic: Persuasive Attention students: By a show of hands how many people in this classroom are under the age of 21? As you look around the classroom you will see that quite a few of you are under this age. Now think to yourself, even though you are under the age of 21, does it mean that no one in this classroom has ever tried alcohol? According to Professor Frankenberg from the alcohol concerns department alcohol is the most serious problem facing teenagers. We are all students at college and most likely gone to one party with alcohol. Today Im here to convince you to think twice about picking up that next bottle of alcohol. Lets begin by talking about why teenagers should not have alcohol. * Firstly, a main point is underage drinking is illegal in Britain. * The way the police act to teenager drinking and driving is absolutely zero. * Most parents who find out that their child has been drinking the parents dont know how to deal with it. * Underage drinking is a crime. Now that I have explained why teens should not have alcohol, I will explain to all of you why teens are not responsible enough to drink. * Teenagers are not responsible enough to drink. * When people drink they lose control, and when underage people drink it is even worse. So the more you drink the more control you lose. Ok. Just Imagine this situation of your best friend driving home from your house one night. And on the way home, your friend meets some person who decided to drink too much and your friend and the other driver crash head on. The underage drunk driver survives, while your best friend is killed. So what happened to the drunk drivers judgement? It is in his 15 empty beer cans at the party that he blames. Officer Dean Wilson, director of the National Organization has calculated that every 15 minutes someone in England dies as the result of an alcohol related traffic collision. Now that I have explained why teenagers are not responsible to drink because of lack Of judgment, I will explain how alcohol is harmful to your health. * Alcohol is harmful to your health. * Anyone who drinks has the chance of seriously hurting his or her body. This can happen in several ways. * Alcohol is a drug that can cause: liver damage, cancer, heart damage or even death. * Women who drink alcohol during pregnancy are at risk to deliver a child with fatal alcohol syndrome. * Looks/appearance It is said that people who drink on a regular basis tend to look older faster. So just think drinking alcohol may seem cool when you are 18 and want to look 21 but what happens when you turn 30 and look like your 50. How good is it then? As John hills the speaker for the charity Alcohol dangers said: that the public should work together and enforce the dangers of alcohol to the teenagers in the world. Young bodies are just not made for drinking alcohol. Now that I have gone over all of my points lets go back over what weve learned today. First we talked about why teenagers should not have alcohol, then we discussed why teenagers are not responsible enough to drink, and finally we discussed how alcohol is harmful to your health. I taught you to learn all that you can about underage drinking and think about what I have said to you today. I also urge you to tell others about the effects of alcohol. Now I will end this speech with a question that I would like for all of you to think about, Is being accepted into a group, and just copying others to fit in worth the risks that are in effect after the first sip of alcohol? Is it really worth it?