The Development Of Modern Courier Services

 by Chris Herd

 Courier services are distinguishable from typical mail services for several reasons. The first and perhaps most important of which is the speed in which modern courier companies are able to deliver each package with most offering same day, next day and overnight services. The second distinguishable feature of packages transported by courier is the importance of their contents. If it's important and absolutely has to be there quickly a courier is typically employed to get the job done.

Early Couriers

The speed and reliability of couriers has provided a valuable service throughout history and can be traced back to early civilisations when runners would literally traverse hundreds of miles on foot between villages to deliver important documents. To enable messages to be carried greater distances than those possible on foot early Egyptian and Persian cultures trained carrier pigeons to fly long distances to deliver important messages. These pigeons were carefully selected and would carry small messages in tubes attached to either their leg or neck.

The First Courier "Networks"

As civilisations developed the networks used by couriers also improved. 100's of routes along which horseback couriers could easily pass were developed. It was these early examples of network based courier systems that has formed the basis for all modern courier systems. Nowadays, an important package that needs to travel a considerable distance will be handled by multiple couriers and utilise a vast network of routes on its journey to its destination.

Modern Courier Services

Nowadays, modern courier companies have an assortment of vehicles at their disposal including planes, ships, trucks and motorcycle. These vehicles have enabled courier companies to offer increasingly quick courier services. It's not uncommon for online retailers to offer next day delivery on items ordered as late as 9pm the previous day. Customers are oblivious to the vast mechanised network that is engaged when they place an order to ensure that their order arrives on time.

Recent technological advancements have also helped to improve the speed and capacity of today's courier networks. Modern track and trace systems follow each and every package throughout their journey providing valuable information to both the courier and customer. Additionally, GPS systems enable these companies to track and manage the location of each courier which in turn enables them to react quickly when a courier is needed in a specific area.

Conclusion

It's clear that courier networks have played a pivotal role in the development of modern society and will continue to do so in the years to come. An army of drivers, packers, warehouse staff and office staff work round the clock 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to process, collect and deliver a vast amount of packages and letters. So, next time a courier rings your door bell stop and consider just how many people it has taken to make that delivery possible.



This article has been produced by Diamond Logistics. A UK based company offering a selection of fast, efficient courier services.

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/The-Development-Of-Modern-Courier-Services/248442

Economic Development Progress in Iran

The history of Iran’s economic growth

It is a well-known fact that Iran’s economic growth was considerable before the late 1970s. In those days they were primarily an agricultural society but this has started to change in the 70s because of increased industrialization and other economical advances. However the economic growth which has been experience began to slow down during 1978 just before the revolution which followed in 1979. After this revolution some drastic reforms followed such as state control over the setting of prices and all other subsidies. There was also a division of the country after the new Constitution has been accepted which led to a division of the country into 3 sectors such as private, state and cooperate and during this dispensation the majority of businesses have become state owned property. Most parts of the industry had been nationalized which included all Iranian banks and other organizations. Most initiatives which were entered into by the government was controlled through central planning which included five years socioeconomic plans which was decided upon by Iran’s supreme leader, the president and the Majlis.

Long-term economic plans

After the revolution the primary objective of government was to ensure economic independence as well as comprehensive employment for everyone. The goal was to provide a comfortable standard of living for all Iranian citizens. Unfortunately by the time that the end of the 20th century was reached the country was faced with increasing economic problems. This problem was further escalated by the very high population growth which took place in the space of only 20 years. During this time the Iranian population has doubled and the average citizens were increasingly younger people. Traditionally Iranians have been primarily farmers but nevertheless agricultural production has been on the decrease since the 1960s. This has led to a situation where Iran has been forced to import large amounts of its food sources. Because of the increasing difficulties which were experienced in rural areas many people started to move to metropolitan areas.

The burden brought about by the war

The extended conflict which existed between Iraq and Iran over a period of eight years has led to a loss of life for over 300,000 Iranians while a further 500,000 Iranian soldiers had been severely injured. This has placed a very heavy burden on the Iranian economy and that has been calculated that the total cost of that war was at least US$500 billion. This necessitated a rebuilding process and some of the areas which needed special attention with transportation, healthcare, communication, manufacturing and the energy sectors. This included nuclear power facilities. There has been several attempts since 2004 when the supreme leader of Iran has tried to implement reforms that will lead to the total privatization of Iran but such attempts have not been successful to date. This had resulted in a situation where Iran are basically a command economy which are in a transition process towards becoming a market economy. It is expected that more severe transformation processes has to be implement before any real economic growth will become possible.



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Joint Custody Agreements: How They Are Becoming The Norm

by Elijah James

Joint custody is quickly becoming the preferred option of courts for divorcing or separating parents, as the legal system becomes more aware of the benefits of having two active and involved parents in a child�s life.

Joint custody is a court order whereby custody of a child is given to both mother and father. Most states recognize two forms of joint custody: joint physical custody, and joint legal custody.

In joint physical custody, also known as joint physical care, a court-ordered joint custody schedule mandates when each parent has care of the child. Joint physical custody, which has become the default joint custody arrangement in many states, is when children split their time between each parent�s residence.

.In joint legal custody, both parents will have access to educational, health, and other records, and share equal decision making status concerning the child�s upbringing. It is important to note that joint physical custody and joint legal custody are different aspects of joint custody, and determination of each aspect of joint custody is often made separately in family court.

In general, joint legal custody situations where both parents share decision-making power but the child primarily resides with just one parent are more common than combinations of joint legal and physical custody because of practical reasons such as school schedules and financial affairs.

Joint custody situations work best when:

- Parents can maintain a civil, business like relationship.

- Joint custody arrangements are planned around the children's needs and developmental requirements.

- Financial resources are available to maintain two full residences.

- Schedules in joint custody are predictable and stable but flexible enough to change when circumstances dictate it.

- Parents live in physical proximity to make joint custody workable.

- Parents are careful to support and not undermine each other, regardless of their own feelings.

If parents are unable to agree on major issues regarding joint custody arrangements for the children after a divorce or separation, a court-appointed mediator can help resolve differences.

Elijah James has over ten years of experience in family law, and shares all his secrets on Joint Custody and

Family Law on his website www.webfamilylaw.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Joint-Custody-Agreements--How-They-Are-Becoming-The-Norm/178992