Life In Car

The Automotive Blog

Archive for October, 2010

October-26-10

Business Training and Development

Posted by bill under Business

Getting ahead of the competition may seem like a fantasy to many companies who are just trying to keep afloat. Dealing with one financial or client crisis after another can distract companies from important functions like organizational development . While a few companies are conducting organizational assessments to determine how best to stay in business, there’s an opportunity to make changes in management, values, procedures, and company structure to position the organization to succeed in the newly evolving economy rather than just weathering the storm.

Training will continue to be a key element for companies who want to grow and succeed as the economy recovers . In order to be in a position to thrive, companies will need a highly skilled and efficient workforce that is savvy in both keeping up with new ideas and trends and flexible enough to adjust to constant change and evolution. This includes a knowledge of where the cutting edge information on industry trends is published and an ability to network effectively in the new age of social media and web communication. Online seminars, on demand workshops, and webinars are an important part of modern day training and companies need to master these forms.

Sending some of their top people to management training and investing in team building programs are other steps companies can take today to prepare for the next business boom.

October-23-10

The Facts about Teen Drug Use

Posted by bill under Health

There are horror stories about teen drug use that result in rape, serious injury or even death. Unfortunately they do not seem to be much of a deterrent to current teen drug use. Perhaps it is a result of the teen mentality that they are “special” and nothing bad will ever happen to them.

Whatever the underlying reason or reasons, teenage drug use statistics are truly frightening. Over 650,000 teens engage in some form of drug use or getting high every day and over 300 emergency room visits each day are the result of drug-related incidents. That’s more than 250,000 visits a year related to alcohol and drug use, including abuse of prescription medications .

A portion of those figures may be first time or experimental users who do not become addicts. However, figures indicate that more than 80,000 teens seek drug abuse treatment each year. There’s the added problem of adolescent drug use and mental health being intertwined. Many adolescents have what is known as dual diagnosis — they suffer not only from addiction, but from another illness or condition such as depression, anxiety or PTSD. Many teens also have eating disorders in conjunction with drug abuse, which further complicates treatment.

Medical and mental health professionals are constantly working to understand the nature of teen addiction and to devise treatment programs that address the specific needs of adolescent patients separate from adults. This is the key to successful recovery from addiction at a young age.

October-12-10

Roadside Car Repair

Posted by bill under Automotive

Nothing can spoil a road trip faster than having car problems, especially on the highway in the middle of nowhere. While you may have roadside service like OnStar or AAA, depending on where you are it may take them awhile. So to help you get back on the road faster, it always a good idea to care a Pontiac repair manual with you so that you can make repairs yourself.
One of the first things that you need to consider when doing roadside auto repair is safety. Make sure that your car is pulled far enough off the side of the road that you won’t be hit by passing cars. It’s also important that you put your hazard lights on , especially at night, so that cars know you are pulled off the road.
There are some repairs, like a flat tire, that can be easily fixed with just some basic tools and a jack. There may be other repairs that can be quickly fixed by consulting your repair manual.
Unless you are a professional mechanic, there will probably be times when you don’t have all of the right tools and you are going to need to call a tow truck . But hopefully with the proper repair manual and a little patience your car will be fixed and back on the road in no time.

October-4-10

The Best Summer Internship Experience

Posted by bill under Education

As the last couple years of college near, one thing that many students look forward to the most is completing a summer internship. It is often the first opportunity to work in the “real world”, apply what they have been learning in class, and hopefully make some valuable connections.

There are many internships out there to choose from in a variety of different fields. While may sound fun and exciting, choosing one that is closest to their desired field will be the most beneficial. For instance, teaching English to children in foreign countries is a fun and worthwhile effort; however it probably won’t be as beneficial to breaking into the sales industry as an internship at Southwestern Company .

However, now is not the time for limitations. This is the ideal time for soon-to-be grads to try new things and where they want to go and what they want to so after college. If an internship abroad is what they have their heart set on, there are many companies that offer international internships and have offices in other countries like Southwestern Company. Photos , life long memories, and a wealth of experiences to take into the future are just a few of the things that students will take away from the best summer internships.

October-2-10

Dallas World Aquarium

Posted by bill under Travel

Downtown Dallas is one expects to find skyscrapers, urban nightlife, and five star hotels. Dallas ‘s West End Historic District, however, is also home to Dallas World Aquarium. Founded in 1992, the Aquarium made it’s home in an empty warehouse that was originally build in 1924. Later expansion took over another former warehouse in 1996 to install the Orinoco – Secrets of the River, and then a few years later, the Aquarium expanded further, this time building a home for the Mundo Maya exhibit, which opened in 2004.

More than an aquarium, the site also houses a zoo and offers a variety of natural experiences, from the Wilds of Borneo to the Orinoco rainforest exhibit. There’s also a South Africa exhibit and a seasonal Madagascar display outside the main building. However, the main attraction is the Aquarium, featuring species from all over the globe in 10 main tanks, including the Mondo Maya tank and tunnel which offer a 180 view of manta rays and sharks. In addition to countless aquatic life, the Aquarium is also home to plants, birds, and other animals, from tarantulas and snakes to monkeys, bats, and jaguars.

A big part of the Dallas World Aquarium ‘s mission is to aid education and conservation of endangered and threatened species. As such, it is part of a cooperative breeding program with other zoos in the US and around the world. Visitors can also enjoy three on-site restaurants and shop at two gift shops.