Is Switching to an EV a Good Idea?

 

Electric Cars

Trashing your current gas operated car in favor of a brand new Electric Car (EV) may prove to be an economic decision considering your transportation bill would dip down. However, such a transition could have its downsides, as electric cars pose challenges of their own too.

First of all, EVs run on electricity, which is cheaper than gas most of the time. If you charge your car from your house, the cost savings compared to filling gas tank become more significant.

EVs cost less to make since they consist of fewer parts compared to a traditional car. All it requires to make an EV run is to put together an electric motor and a battery pack. They do not have an engine and a transmission, which are known to be overly complicated parts.

Because EVs do not possess such parts to begin with, they do not require substantial maintenance as the gas powered cars do on regular intervals. This is another cost saving facet of EVs.

On the other hand, the range of EVs is not so promising, as you have to charge your car more so often in order not to be left stranded on the side of the road. This can be a big nuisance especially when there are not enough charging stations in the proximity.

Charging duration can also pose a question mark for potential buyers since it might take an hour to completely charge your car even on those fast chargers. The situation gets more annoying if all the stations are occupied and you have to wait for some time to find a vacant spot.

Owning an EV might sound like a cheaper and a cleaner way of getting from point A to point B. Yet, it is not without its woes.

Ataturk’s Leadership Traits

 

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, illustrated all the important facets of being an outstanding leader, guiding the nation through some of the darkest times. It is his lead that helped the people of Turkey believe that the goal of independence is real and attainable if believed by all.

A true leader empowers people around him so that they have the motivation needed to keep them working hard against all odds. Ataturk’s efforts to congregate the Turkish people who stood against the occupation and make them believe that they have the will and power to repel the enemy off is strong proof to this leadership trait. His quest throghout Anatolia united the Turks for one common goal while unleashing a strong desire for freedom.

Good leaders tend to lead by example. They never act behind the scenes. Instead, they always step onto the stage and show what needs to be done to his followers. Likewise, Ataturk did not prefer to lead from the command center idly; he descended into the field in order to fight alongside his fellow soldiers, orchestrating the charges on the enemy. Thereby, he made an example to follow, whatever the cost.

Being a good leader requires being a good listener. He cared about what others have to say about any decision he makes. Ataturk also made a habit of holding meetings where everybody’s opinion is counted for and discussed about. To him, letting people known that their voices are heard is of utmost importance to any democracy.

With the help of Ataturk’s wisdom and leadership, Turkey emerged victorious from its struggles as a democratic and sovereign country, ready to develop into a modern nation.

Lost Appetite – The Joy of Reading

 

I remember I stared at comic magazines before I learned to read. I was trying to guess what was going on just by looking at the pictures and turning the pages, curious to see what happens next. After I learned how to read, those comic books became my lasting memories from my childhood. I was so happy reading them, never knowing what boredom was.

Nowadays, I rarely see children enjoying their reading sessions. Reading feels like something obligatory as an extension to their studies rather than an activity to get joy out of it. Although the selection of books available to them is much more diverse than what it used to be, kids do not seem to find books that make them jubilant.

This is largely attributable to the technology that surrounds today’s youth. The internet has made available just about any digital content. Movies, games, and all sorts of digital entertainment instilled a sense of insatiability into young minds. Accessing everything and switching back and forth between each media with ease, kids started to be oblivious to simple things that used to make them happy. To them, reading takes time and some mental energy. They could simply watch an episode of their favorite TV series instead and get the same joy they could have gotten out of reading.

The joy of reading faded because of the excessive use of technology in kids. Technology, though helpful if used correctly, can mess with your child’s cognitive skills. Reading, on the other hand, flourishes their mental skill set while giving them a good time.

Toyota's Legacy

Toyota has been known for making reliable cars for decades. Their cars are labeled as having the perfect combination of passenger safety, comfort, and cost-effectiveness. Toyota excels at anything an average consumer may need while claiming low emissions. But how do they achieve these traits anyway?

Toyota’s secret lies in their relentless pursuit of consumer satisfaction. To them, a satisfied consumer can be more important than money since a customer having a bad experience with the brand might discourage others who had eyes on the same brand. That’s why they recall all those cars with defective airbags. Even though it costs them a fortune to undertake such an endavour, it makes the consumers happy to feel valued.

Toyota never makes drastic changes to their cars, making sure that no hiccups happen at the production phase. Something that has not been tested and tried can always go wrong. Hence, it is company policy that innovation is introduced incrementally rather than abruptly. That does not mean Toyota’s doors are closed to technological advancements; rather, the timing of these advancements is of vital importance.

Toyota emphasizes environmental sustainability. They acted a lot earlier than its competitors by introducing hybrid cars to the industry. Converting some of the car’s kinetic energy to electricity and thereby using that electricity to move the car was revolutionary. Others followed Toyota on hybrid cars, helping consumers enjoy a driving experience that is cleaner and cheaper.

Toyota continues the legacy by offering people a safe and comfortable ride from point A to point B while still working on ways to enhance the consumer experience further. Setting the standards higher while stiffening the competition, Toyota’s production mentality lifts the automobile industry as a whole.

Innovation and Private Sector

Private firms spearhead the production growth in any country. After all, the capitalist system itself pushes the private sector to engage in economic activities, as the capital needed for these activities is held by private individuals. It has been proven that the government acting as an entrepreneur in the market often yields outcomes that do not benefit society as a whole.

The private sector’s stance on market opportunities involves rational choices based on the profitability of any economic endeavor. Private entities prioritize their money, the capital, before dulging in any activity since it is their hard-earned and accumulated capital that is at stake. On the other hand, governments spend the tax money, which belongs to citizens. When government officials decide to compete in any market, they do not always behave like private firms do, as the capital that they are putting forward is not theirs. They are not betting their own money, which could lead them to make bolder decisions. The private sector is the key to efficient economic decisions.

Not only that, but the private sector comes up with innovation, which brings about economic growth. To increase productivity, thus profit, firms need to innovate. Take, for example, Henry Ford’s assembly line. He needed to manufacture cars at a faster rate, so he devised a new production method in which pre-produced parts were attached to the body at a specific location on a continuously moving line.

The fact that the private sector’s efficient production, combined with the government’s monitoring and safeguarding, propels a nation’s economy to new heights is undeniable.

Drones Get Equipped With A.I.

Drones have taken up a bigger space in our skies lately. Easy to operate than any other aerial vehicle, drones are used in so many areas, from delivery of goods to surveillance. By incorporating drone technology with artificial intelligence, drones can also be controlled by computers. Although such a technology is still in its infancy, it will transform the future of drones dramatically.

Assigning each drone with an a.i. gives them a sense of autonomy, allowing them to decide what to do depending on changing circumstances. A drone equipped with advanced CPUs can calculate the possible whereabouts of disaster survivors and help authorities locate them. Drones can survey and map areas struck by disasters, accelerating the search and rescue efforts.

Drones can also navigate through stern environments where humans cannot get there safely. Caverns, cliffs, and summits can all be explored by drones without putting human life in danger. They can pinpoint congested streets or roads, reporting spots that cause traffic jams.

The fight against crime can also be another area to make use of drones. We would not need any choppers to follow criminals who run off by vehicle. The chase vehicle can be easily tracked by drones, which can calculate possible routes that the runaway vehicle could divert to. This would greatly ease law enforcement's efforts to fight crime.

The future of drones is very bright. The application of drones has become so widespread that its implications will affect everyone for the better. Life will be a lot easier, and the world will be safer.

Fish Farming: Why we need it

 

Growing concerns over the sustainability of marine life bring about questions on raising fish in artificially created habitats both inland and at sea. It has been a promising business model where people raise fish for consumption purposes, just like a farm raises poutlry for meat. Can such a practice put fish on the tables of ordinary households?

Yes, farming fish has had a positive impact on the fish market, creating a substitute for the fish raised in the seas naturally. A bass farmed by humans is sold cheaper than its sea-born counterpart. A greater portion of the population can now have access to fish products, which possess vital proteins essential to a healthy body.

However, like any endeavor, these practices have some shady sides to them. Greed can be a big factor, such that in order to reduce costs, the owners can overcrowd the pools, creating constant turmoil within the pool. Moreover, the quality of fish feed is often questionable. The availability of additives that can accelerate the maturity process can be tempting.

The fish is a very important source of protein, which should be consumed for at least a week by all. Yet, both pollution and excessive hunting put a hold on the population growth of freshwater fish. Hence, we have been forced to farm our fish to make up for the forgone supply. In this respect, farming fish on the shores and inland pools benefits us in that more of us can now afford to buy fish and fish products. On a side note, though, fish farming is not always a clean practice, which should be monitored closely by the authorities.