Why I would like to apply for Zappos for 2 reasons.

          First, Zappos believes that the delivery speed plays a very important role in an online purchase since it makes customers think about shopping again or not in the future. Therefore Zappos focus a lot on making sure the items get delivered to customers as quickly as possible. Also they have a very special policy called” Free shipping; free returns” which means Zappos offers free shipping on all domestic orders with no minimum order sizes. In addition, if you are not satisfied with your purchase, you can return your order for a full refund. I think it is a very human-based policy because it reduces the risk of buying the wrong items during online shopping. Moreover, it can let customers memorize the Zappos brand has the best service ever and then increase the customers’ loyalty and satisfaction degree. So when they expand other product categories that customers especially patron will feel pleasant and at ease to purchase.

 

          Second, Zappos encourage employees to come up with new ideas for the company. They believe that the best ideas, suggestions and decisions are made from the lower-level employees who are closest to the customers. Zappos not only encourage diversity in ideas, opinions, and points of view but also embrace each person’s individuality. They offer an environment which is friendly and warm just like a big family that everyone can express their opinions without pressure. I think it is wonderful to work in a company that more like a breezy family which everyone can discuss and cooperate to each other. In Zappos, co-workers and managers do not only focus on your work but also take care for each other. This is the point that attracts me the most

 

          If I have the opportunity I will apply for Zappos because my major in undergraduate is business management so I know a lot of knowledge of how to lead a company to become successful. For example, not only by using marketing strategies or business policies to operate a business well but also concerned about employees’ physical, mental and social health. Even more to do something that promotes world citizenship and development. I believe I am capable of getting a job in Zappos.

An unforgettable restaurant in Champaign

          Last Friday two of my friends, my boyfriend and I went to Texas Roadhouse to have dinner. I have known this restaurant since last September, because when I search the most popular restaurant in Champaign-Urbana area on the internet and they got a lot of people’s good recommendations, so I always wanted to go. Unfortunately I don’t have a chance to visit there because there is no bus to get there. On last Friday my dream finally came true and I was so excited to go to there.

 

          When we arrived, I saw the restaurant’s outside appearance is a wooden building with rustic style. There is a lighten signboard featuring with Texas map and a cowboy hat upon the front door. At the same time there is a long line of customer waiting outside for waiter/ waitress’s call. We decided to get into the restaurant to get a waiting number first because I could see crowds flocked just like high tide keep slapping the shore and never stop. When I got in, there were full of customers like a crowed ant nest or honeycomb. In the porch of the restaurant there is a huge can of roasted peanut that everyone can wait there and take some peanut before they get their table. As I saw people throw down peanut shells on the floor, this is really interesting action, although I don’t know why people do this, but I just copied their behavior and did it too. The peanut shells were above the entire floor like an exceptional uneven blanket. Finally, it’s our turn to get a table and I ordered a medium rare 10 oz. Ft. Worth Ribeye steak with Caesar salad and fries. Before the steak came I am so hungry like a wolf and I think I could ingurgitate an entire elephant. Then the waiter gave us some golden baked unlimited rolls and cinnamon butter in the meantime. Those fresh rolls was so soft and sniffed the aroma of creamy butter. Oh my god so good, so yummy. After around 20 minutes my steak came, it was thick, slathered in gravy and stewed mushrooms. The smell of steak, fries and stewed mushrooms wafting out make me have a strong appetite. When I cut the steak, I could see the pink color inside that it showed how tender and juicy the meat was. And I would said this steak is the most delicious steak I have ever had. Without doubt, I will go to Texas Roadhouse again if I could.

My opinion about organ transplants

          After watching a video, which is talking about organ transplants. I think organ transplants biotechnology is not that bad because it can recreate your organ by yourself, scientist using your own stem cells put it into a “ghost organ” let it becomes your new organ, so you will not have any rejection or you don’t have to wait for a long time for someone donate their organs.

          By using traditional organ transplants, even though you can get a donor organ but nobody can make sure or promise it will 100 percent fit your body, there are still have some problems with organ transplants by using others organ, so I think I will accept organ transplants this kind of biotechnology in this aspect.

Something about Biotechnology and Human Cloning

          

          

          Biotechnology is a technology based on biology, by using biotechnology harnesses cellular and bimolecular processes to develop technologies and products that help to improve our lives and health. Biotechnology not only exists in the world today, our ancestors actually knew the use of microorganisms to enhance the quality of life. For example, in 6000 B.C. when there is documented brewed beer; in 4000 B.C. Egyptians would had been produced by the fermentation method to bake bread. But enlightenment of biotechnology, generally considered to be started in the French scientist Pasteur in 1857 that he discovered the phenomenon of fermentation, and he has been called the father of biotechnology after microbes have been widely used. After 1960, microbes began to be used to produce proteins as a tool, when scientists have established genetic engineering and recombinant DNA technology, then many kinds of biotech products or applications are appear such as recombinant proteins, hormones, cells hormones. Nowadays, the use of biological applications much more widespread than before. However they all based on a principle that is in order to improve our lives and health.

                                                                                   

          

         

          Now I want to focus on one of the applications of biotechnology it is called “human cloning technology.” Human cloning is the creation of a genetically identical copy of a human. Use a simple way to explain. First, take out the nucleus from ovum. Second, implant nucleus in somatic cell. Third, stimulate the changed egg nucleus, so it begins to differentiation, and then put it into womb let it developed. Finally, human clone to be born. Without doubt the genotype of human cloning, the nucleus will be provided with exactly the same man or woman. Discussion of cloning is always a controversial issue because we know cloning both has pros and cons.

          

          

          The proponents of cloning point out many advantages. They see the new cloning technology as a way to overcome infertility from acquired diseases. It can prevent genetic or hereditary diseases within their family. Also using this technology, doctors can transplant organ by creating an exact replica clone, take out the part which I need to transplant from its body. Even we can reproduce deceased loved ones. But the opponents of human cloning put forward an argument of many social, moral, and ethical have been raised in opposition to imitating a duplicate person. Based on a number of ethical considerations many countries in the world have expressly prohibited various experiments related to human cloning. According to Health Research Funding.org we discovered cloning has a possibility of faster aging, because an older cell is often being used to create a human clone, so imprinted age could be placed on the growing embryo. Another problem is it might reduce sense of individuality. Clone and real person they might have the same personality just like identical twins look alike, but also its personality might be totally the same. Furthermore it may reduce the overall value of human life. With human cloning method that human become more like a product not an individual.

         

       

          In my opinion I against biotechnology especially human cloning technology, because I think every individual is unique you only live once no matter you are healthy or unhealthy it is your real life. Recent, scientists discovered a new technology called “Embryonic stem cell”. Stem cells in cord blood are the most precious material of taking cell therapy, and it having a self-repair ability of mass production of cells and differentiated progeny. It can cure many kinds of diseases even includes cancer. We can get stem cells from the umbilical cord of infant, so a lot of Taiwanese parents save their baby’s stem cells in blood bank in order to protect, prevent and save their kids’ life from diseases or accident. Instead of killing clones’ life, using my stem cells to saving myself I think this is the best way.  Also I believe biodiversity is important to our planet and our life, biodiversity is the way to maintain the ecological balance, and we know within real natural environment no two humans are exactly alike. And my last point until now no one could have predicted “human cloning” this kind of results of technological civilization, is good or bad? Therefore, in summary I don’t want to have a cloning me.

 

 

References:

• National Science and Technology Museum  http://biotech.nstm.gov.tw/04/041.asp
• American Medical Association  http://www.ama-assn.org//ama/pub/physician-resources/medical-science/genetics-molecular-medicine/related-policy-topics/stem-cell-research/human-cloning.page
• Biotechnology Industry Organization  http://www.bio.org/articles/what-biotechnology
• Health Research Funding  http://healthresearchfunding.org/pros-cons-human-cloning/

I love Sashimi ♥

          In my home country Taiwan we have a lot of Japanese restaurant. Most foreigners don’t know why Taiwanese love Japanese food so much and why so many Taiwanese can speak Japanese. That’s because Taiwan had been ruled by Japanese for more than 50 years (from 1895 to 1952). Before I start to explain why I love Japanese food “sashimi” so much, I want to tell you some history about Taiwan. During Japanese rule period (around 1935), Japanese began an island-wide assimilation project to fasten Taiwan more firmly to the Japanese Empire. People were taught to being as Japanese. At this time all the Taiwanese resident adopt Japanese last name, and Japanese was the only official language they have to spoke in school and in public. According to the history factors maybe this is why Taiwanese are accustomed to Japanese food.

   

          Even though Taiwan and Japan have been implicated in the history, but I love Sashimi just because it is fresh, healthy and of course tastes good.

 

          The first characteristic is fresh. I love Sashimi very much. Sashimi is a Japanese delicacy consisting of very fresh raw fish sliced into thin pieces. Many non-Japanese people just know sushi but have never heard about sashimi. Perhaps some people heard about both sashimi and sushi, but do not know the two dishes are distinct and separate. Using a very simple way to express, sashimi is just like sushi but without any rice. Because this dish is made of raw fish or meat hence it must be very fresh. Usually, the most important ingredient fish is without seasoning, the only taste is its original flavor. We all know that as long as the quality of food is good and fresh enough, it would be very good and healthy to eat without adding any seasoning.

 

          The second characteristic is healthy. Now we know Sashimi is raw fish sliced, it is uncooked and without seasoning. Doctors advised people to reduce the salt uptake, I think it is a good way to reducing salt intake for me. There are many species of Sashimi, but salmon is the most common type of Sashimi. I know all types of salmon are high in omega-3s it can help lower triglycerides, blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, and many more. Salmon is also a good source of vitamin D it is good for your bones.

 

          Now I really miss Sashimi so much because Champaign is not a city on the brink of the sea, I can not eat fresh seafood.

 

          Anyway, since I came to the U.S. when I go out to eat I see a lot of fried food and restaurants offer over-sized meals to customers. It is not healthy at all, excessive intake of fat and calories can cause obesity, diabetes and other heart disease. Even when I at home, my home mom always prepares a full pot of fried chicken to provide for her kids and grand kids. I rarely see they eat other food except fried chicken, cheese pasta and pizza. Especially fried chicken is wrapped with flour, and we know fried foods need a lot of oil to fry and the flour clothing will absorb oil as soon as we put chicken into an oil pot. Chicken usually used as fried chicken its quality is not very good, so they choose a not good ingredient and then using a greasy cooking way. I’m pretty sure this is definitely not good for their health. So I decided to cook everyday by myself I can control what I eat.

My school life now in the US and My school life back in Taiwan.

        On January 11, 2014, I came to the U.S. to start my English study plan. I found that the school life in the U.S. is quite different from my home country Taiwan.

       The first thing I found is that the time you spend in school in the United States is different from the time you spend in Taiwanese schools. In the United States, every day after class, students leave school and come home really early. Unlike students in Taiwan, American students have a lot of free time. For example, elementary students in the U.S., I usually see school buses take students home around 2:30 P.M. In Taiwan, our elementary students leave school around 4 P.M.  After class, we will go to cram school to go to English, Mathematics, Writing class etc., and do homework, or to review lessons there. When I was an elementary school student (age7-12), I went home around 6 P.M. every day. And when I studied in junior high (age13-15), I went home around 8 P.M. I went home around 11P.M. when I was a senior high school student (age 16-18). This kind of learning time schedule it is really tries to cram too much information and is tough for students. We are just like machines without the ability for independent thinking, always studying, always doing more practice and never stopping!

 

       

       The second different thing is American high school students can wear casual clothes to school, but Taiwanese high school students must wear uniforms. In America, students get more freedom, they can wear what they want to wear; they can change their appearance. For example they can dye  their hair, wear earrings, paint nails. However, these kind of appearances are forbidden in Taiwan’s high schools. Specifically, I studied in a Catholic girl’s high school where school regulations are very strict.  sometime we have cold weather in winter, we still need to wear uniform with skirt all the time. It’s no sense at all.

 

This is my senior high school’s uniform.

       The last thing I want to mention is even though Taiwanese students don’t like to go to school, however it is the government statutory policy, so we must go to school. If you don’t go to school (maybe 1 or 2 weeks) then police will come to your house, ask your parents what’s going on? But American students can choose homeschool, instead of go to school, they study at home by themselves. For example, my landlady’s son Andre, he is 13 years old and he never goes to school, when I first time heard that he doesn’t need to go to school, I feel unbelievable.