Diffusion and Standardization with Operation System The WritePass Journal

Diffusion and Standardization with Operation System Reference Diffusion and Standardization with Operation System Abstract1. Introduction of Windows and Mac OS 2. The Development of the OS Standard 3. The MAC OS Threat 4.   How the proprietary regime would affect the diffusion ReferenceRelated Abstract This paper discusses the standard of operation system (OS) in the personal computer industry, and how Windows finally became a standard of this industry. To comprehend better of this process, we critically evaluate the proprietary regime and what is the effect of this regime on the diffusion process. This paper also provides a short view of network effect and switching cost, product preannouncement that have influenced the outcome of the standards competition. 1. Introduction of Windows and Mac OS There have been two distinct operation environments along with personal computer industry, Windows and Mac OS.   They are undergoing an intensive standard race over the past 10 years. Windows is an operation environment introduced by Microsoft in 1985, a strong market leader which accounts for more than 90% usage share in 2009 with its high quality and easy handling graphical user interfaces.1 Mac OS is a system developed by Apple, a small usage share of 6% and less well known in operation systems.2 The two systems are incompatible with each other by different technology support. Technologically speaking, both have their advantages. The Windows is supported by hardware configuration, which is provided by a series of hardware manufacturing, like INTEL 〠AMD. On the other hand, Mac OS has its uniqueness which is a way to differentiate it from all other personal computers out there. Mac OS is only to be installed at Apple’s computer by Apple’s license agreement, that is to say Apple is not to license their OS. What is more, Windows is able to run on any portable application and there are a mounting number of end systems could be offered with it. By contrast, Mac OS is compatible to limited software. 2. The Development of the OS Standard By the early 1980s, some small companies which led the minicomputer market in the late 1970s have been taken a hand by larger computers. A smaller number of de-facto industry standards have developed. In 1981, when the largest computer firm which is IBM entered into the microcomputer area and made the decision that all the IBM PC shipped with IBM PC-DOS which is a licensed version of Microsoft’s MS-DOS rather than the superior industry-standard CP/M-86 operation system.3 In 1984, 4 Microsoft achieved growth of revenues from MS- DOS’s sales by IBM and other competitor’s manufacturers who were willing to buy MS-DOS license to be shipped with their computers. However, it still achieved little popularity and it was competition with Apple’s own OS. Back then, the industry expected that the IBM would be the technical direction .However, 1987 when IBM made a risky business decision that chose to introduce their PS/2 line which would be licensed to anyone who could afford the royalty, however it failed to maintain the open AT bus.8 PS/2 line made the IBM machines were not IBM-compatible anymore. Because of that, many PC manufactures hold off accepting the PS/2 licenses and worked together on a new open bus type to all manufactures, which lead to that IBM no longer the leader and standard of the industry. Around the same time, at the beginning of the 1990s, 9 Microsoft developed a brand new OS –Windows, which turned out being very popular. At the same time, IBM would prefer to replace DOS with its vastly superior OS/2, but Microsoft insisted on pushing the industry standard with Windows.  Ã‚   With lower price and high technically superior performance, Windows became the de-facto standard with more than 2 million selling of copies of Windows version 3.0 in 1992. After then, Windows 95 made a revolutionary change to the user interface and also used preemptive multitasking. During that time, the early adopters of computer tended to use the internet to communicate the strengths and weaknesses of Windows 95 and programming more software. Windows XP was released and becoming the largest usage OS ever. In 2009, a new edition –windows 7 focused on new features with more compatible applications and hardware. Moreover, in 2011, a preannouncement of Windows 8 has been made that will be released in 2 years later in order to affect the choices of potential customers. In fact, Windows OS would be an open format with all the computers shipped with Windows is capable of using extensive compatible software. Moreover, the historical record reflected that the key to the success of Windows OS lay in the fact that Windows can be licensed to PC manufacturers as much as possible. 3. The MAC OS Threat Despite the extensive success of Windows OS in the past 20 years, industry competitor still is trying to change the market. Some preserved with the unique and technically superior system, like Mac OS by Apple. Apple’s Macintosh developed in 1984, which achieved a commercially successful in the beginning of 1980s. Macs are rapidly growing in popularity by its unique software/hardware market niche. They insisted on their unique standard with their proprietary system which is Mac OS that would run nothing anyone else programmed.7 In the case ofcomputer OS, Mac OS has very limited compatibility with other programme but on the other hand, is quite easy to use and requires relatively little maintenance, which is the reason why It is undergoing a slightly growth in the usage market in comparison with previous performance. 4.   How the proprietary regime would affect the diffusion As we all know that the value of a specific computer system depends on availability of compatible software 11.User usually not care whether others use the same computer as me, but I benefit indirectly from the fact that there are many other users of the same product which means that there is a large market of software. The historical record of Windows OS and Mac OS has shown that fact that Windows OS is a relatively open standard. Microsoft knowing that they would not dominate the market on their own without the cooperation to other computer manufacturing. Thus they licensed the Windows OS to other companies which at last achieved a monopoly on OS market with 90% share and all computers running their OS.   Apple, by contrast, made its Mac OS closed standard.   They has a high monopoly on Mac os with 100% of their computer Reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Windows http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Windows http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wintel islandnet.com/~kpolsson/compsoft/soft1991.htm thocp.net/companies/microsoft/microsoft_company.htm http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090715083926AATdrXk Kennedy, Randall C. (2008-04-14).  Fat, fatter, fattest: Microsofts kings of bloat | Applications. InfoWorld. Retrieved 2010-01-12. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1999-10-13/business/9910130219_1_chips-microprocessor-gartner ocdqblog.com/home/the-diffusion-of-data-governance.html G.M.Peter Swann The Economics of Innovation An Introdution 2009

How to master your next phone interview

How to master your next phone interview In this era of texting, when phone conversations are increasingly rare, a phone interview can be a daunting step during the job hunt process. It’s hard enough to do a face-to-face interview, but in this case you have to  create a rapport with a potential employer with no facial expressions to guide you. And just because you’re not in front of someone, suited up and resume in hand, doesn’t mean that your conversation is any less important. In fact, a survey on CareerBuilder revealed that 87% of employers could tell if a job candidate was a good fit within the first 15 minutes of a phone interview. Here are a few tips to help keep you sane and increase your chances of success if you’re asked to dial in to get to know your future employer.Warm up your voice.Don’t let your phone interview be the first vocal contact you have with another person on interview day. Call a friend or family member and have a chat. If no one’s around, have a conversat ion with yourself in the shower. Do anything it takes to get in conversation mode so you don’t sound like you just rolled out of bed at interview time.Treat it like the real thing.So what if your interviewer can’t see you? Dress up as you would for an in-person interview, wearing professional, comfortable clothing that makes you feel your best. Sit upright in a real chair. Don’t slump on the couch, lie on your bed, or sprawl out. Act like a professional and you’re more likely to sound like one.Do your research.Your interviewer wants to know that you’re serious about the job, and the best way to show you really want it is to seek out information about your interviewer, the company, the position, the industry, etc. Do as much homework as you would for an in-person interview. If you are well informed, you will also be prepared for any question your interviewer might toss your way.Don’t babble too much.Filling awkward silences with babble is a t ic we all have in interviews, and it sounds even worse on the phone. Never talk to simply fill dead air and never keep your interviewer from getting in a word edgewise. Finish your sentences and allow room for the other person to respond- this is not only a good recipe for a natural interview conversation; it’s also a sign that you’re a considerate person.Talk to a face.If you can do a bit of Google stalking and find a photo of your interviewer, print it out or pull it up on your computer so you can look at it during your interview. This can help you connect with your interviewer and match her or his voice to a face. If you can’t find a photo of your interviewer, try looking at a picture of someone in your field that you respect and pretend that you are trying to impress that person.End on a positive note.No matter how well (or terribly) you think the interview went, make sure to end with pep and confidence. Thank your interviewer for the call, reiterate your in terest in the position, and remind him or her that you’d be a great fit- and a strong asset!- to the team. Even if you’re not feeling it, project professionalism and positivity in those final moments.  Then, immediately send a thank you note just as you would after an in-person interview.

Business in the United Kingdom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business in the United Kingdom - Essay Example Development of a country is the outcome of the efforts of firms in order to generate new as well as improvised products, thereby, prefacing more efficacious productive procedures and implement the organizational and managerial transformations and design methods. A discourse of the different sources of development with bringing in to use the newest accessible quantitative statistics for the United Kingdom which make it clear that a firm's investment in the development activities is much extensive than their endeavors in the Research and Development or R & D on its own which has conventionally been centralized of much of the economic texts for quite a varied reasons (Bulli: 5). Mort noticed that the Central Government is the prime collector of statistics in the United Kingdom for the main economic and business growth (Mort, 2003: 123). In the United Kingdom, business is structured in a way that most of the activities occur within the private division with judgments and decisions being made in the market, for the reason that the private sector business are owned by individual proprietors as well as shareholders who look forward to make profits and attain objectives (Report, 2005). The businesses here possess a top down hierarchical anatomy with many sheaths within them and a descending flow of interaction. However, as per McTavish's views, although the privately owned businesses could be brought in to use as implements of the public policy, they were quite different from the other associated parts of the public sector with superior gradations of functional sovereignty (McTavish, 2005: 5). Regardless of the Research and Development delineating only a small number of firms' investment in development activities, nevertheless, it is still considered to be a significant pointer of UK's development performance. Moreover, the performance of UK seems to be in line with other developed economies for the reason that it efficaciously takes the industrial sector work into account. 2. Harmonizing Investments in Development According to Gee, for the companies to arrange accounts in accordance with the UK national norms stay subject to the requirement of the Companies Act which provides a true and genuine view which seeks conformity with the UK accounting standards (Gee, 2006: 13). The development performance activities in a firm are reliant on the ability to assemble knowledge, ideologies as well as market cognizance in to new and improvised goods and services which are associated with the personalized ingenuity, business know-how and innovation administration (Bulli: 7). An absolute analysis for the United Kingdom in comparison to other major economies of the world states that the UK has been lacking large firms, which prove to be the main-stream performers of the business in R & D

Logic Application Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Logic Application - Essay Example Now I know the sum of my cards: my cards’ sum value is either 14 or 18. From this question we realize we have the five odd numbers, that is, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. The ones that I can see are 1, 3, and 7. Because there are five odd numbers, then among my cards I must have 5 and 9. It has to be noted that the card numbers have to be between 1 and 9. Now that I know I have two odd numbers that is 5 and 9. I also know that my sum is either 14 or 18. Furthermore, the games rules are that I have three cards whose value is between 1 and 9 (Harris, 2000). The following steps shows my third cards Since I have three cards then obviously the sum of my cards has to be more than 14. If the sum is more than 14 then it can only be 18 indicating my third card’s value is 4. Therefore, my cards are 4, 5, & 9. Using information revealed by Andy’s question, I realized that the sum value of my cards is either 14 or 18. Using information from Belle question, I realized that I have two odd numbers 5 and 9. The sum value of these two cards is 14 and since I have a third card then the total sum value is 18 indicating my third card to be 4. Therefore, my cards are 4, 5, &

Odysseus vs Rama Essay Example for Free

Odysseus vs Rama Essay Two exciting epics that are widely read and well-known across the globe hold many likenesses between the heroes. The Odyssey by Homer and The Ramayana by Valmiki, tell the tales of two heroes who hold many similarities between them even as their stories differ. Both poems are epics because their heroes are great men, well-known to their worlds, both suffer long difficult journeys, and both are aided by as well as taunted by gods and goddesses of their religions and cultures. But in the end both men overcome great tragedy and catastrophes to rightfully rule as kings of their own lands. Odysseus and Rama were both strong warriors of great stature. Athena speaks of Odysseus to his son and calls him â€Å"a mighty man† (Homer, Odyssey, Book I,p. 7). Griffith describes Rama as â€Å"Tall and broad-shouldered, strong of limb,† (Griffith, Book I, stz. 1) who has â€Å"†¦massive jaw and ample chest† and â€Å"strong arms reach below his knee† (Griffith, Book I, stz. 1). Throughout the story these men both are challenged and use their great strength of the warrior to defeat their challengers. Odysseus is challenged by the sea many times and with great strength survives the power of the sea against him. In the house of King Alcinous he describes many a plight where he fought against the drowning waves and the storms of Poseidon. â€Å"†¦. Zeus with white bolt crushed my swift ship and cleft it in the midst of the wine-dark deep†¦. I clung with fast embrace about the keel of the curved ship, and so was I borne for nine whole days†¦. † (Homer, Osdyssey, Book VII, p. 105). Only a man of great strength and endurance could cling in the moving waters for nine whole days without fail. Then, against Poseidon’s enormous waves, Odysseus later survives a storm at sea by swimming through the forcible waves to reach land. For Poseidon, shaker of the earth, stirred up the same, who roused against me the winds†¦. Thus the storm winds shattered the raft, but as for me I cleft my way through the gulf yonder†¦. † (Homer,Odyssey,1950, Book VII, p. 105). Odysseus exhibits godly strength against the seas and her challenges. Rama displays an unconquerable stamina in Griffith’s epic. Rama slays a giant to gain the friendship of Agastya but this leads to his being attacked by the giantess Surpanakha and her three sisters. Still they are no match for Rama as â€Å"†¦. they and myriad fiends beside Beneath the might of Rama died† (Griffith, Book I stz. ). Both heroes are challenged by enormous odds and yet both are victorious proving stout strength and stamina above all other men. However, physical strength is not the only weapon these heroes wield. Cunning and strategy play an important role in defeating more powerful enemies. Odysseus exhibits such mental strength against Cyclops when he helps his companions to escape the Cyclops’ cavern. Odysseus devised a plan to deceive Cyclops and in his cunning is even smart enough to predict Cyclops’ call for help from his brethren. And in knowing this, he tells Cyc lops his name is â€Å"Noman. Thus does Cyclops call out for help after Odysseus blinds him with the torched end of a stake and cries â€Å"My friends, Noman is slaying me by guile, nor at all by force† (Homer,Odyssey,1950, Book IX, p. 137-8). Thus his friends who thought â€Å"no man† was assaulting their brother determined his suffering to be a sickness sent by Zeus and bade him to call upon his father Poseidon for help and went their ways. Odysseus further exhibits his craftiness when he devises a plan of escape. When Cyclops is blinded, he sets himself before the cave entrance with arms wide to prevent the men’s departure through the cavern mouth. However, Odysseus is more clever than he and fastens three sheep together across and ties a man beneath the middle one’s underbelly. For himself he hangs on beneath the magnificent ram until sunrise when they are allowed through the mouth of the cavern by Cyclops out to pasture to graze. Once far from Cyclops Odysseus comes out from under his ram and then unfastens his men, and they are all able to escape. By their hiding beneath the sheep, Cyclops only felt the fleece and thereby allowed the men to pass through. This is a grand display of cunning. Rama also portrays some semblance of intelligence when he chooses his allies against the demon king, realizing that he can win their loyalty by defeating their enemy and convincing the king of the monkeys that they share a suffrage because they both have been banished from their homelands, Rama is able to convince the monkey army to come to his aid (Griffith, Book I, stz. 1) . â€Å"Who, knowing all the tale, before The sacred flame alliance swore. Sugriva to his new-found friend Told his own story to the end: His hate of Bali for the wrong And insult he had borne so long. And Rama lent a willing ear And promised to allay his fear† (Griffith, Book I, Stz. 1). With his crafty ways, Rama knew since he had slain the object of Sugriva’s , the monkey king’s, hatred, that he would be allied at once with the monkey armies. This was his key to finding his wife, Sita, and rescuing her. Odysseus and Rama were both intertwined with the deities of their cultures. Odysseus had the help of Athena throughout his entire trip home after the war in Troy and his exile with Calypso on her lonely island where he was a kept man by the goddess (Homer, Odyssey, Book I, p. ). Athena bodes Zeus â€Å"O father†¦. if indeed this thing is now well pleasing to the blessed gods, that wise Odysseus should return to his own home, let us then speed Hermes the Messenger†¦. to the island of Ogygia. There with all speed let him declare†¦. our unerring counsel, even the return of the patient Odysseus, that so he may come to his home† (Homer,Odyssey,1950, Book I, p. 3). If not for Athena’s plea and reminder to Zeus, Odysseus would have remained with Calypso forever. But Athena provides further assistance and stays beside Odysseus along the way. She is with him when he travels to the house of King Alcinous and tries to protect him and to guide him. â€Å"At that same hour Odysseus roused him to go to the city, and Athene shed a deep mist about Odysseus for the favour that she bare him, lest any of the Phaeacians†¦. should meet him and mock him†¦. † (Homer,Odyssey,1950, Book VII, p. 97). And disguised as a maiden she journeys with him home on the ship and stays until he has defeated his wife’s wooers who have consumed the spoils of his home. She lends her assistance when needed such as when she cloaked Odysseus and his son and his men in darkness so that they may leave the town to come back to defeat the wooers in battle. Athena provides even more aid as she convinces his son Telemachus to search for his father and to bring him home. She also gives him advice such as having his mother hide Odysseus’ bow that no man can string other than Odysseus, foreseeing the contest to prove his identity later after his journey (Homer,Odyssey,1950, Book II, pp. 25-7). Rama himself is a god although he does not know this. He is the born human entity of the god Vishnu Narayana who has a premeditated plan to take human form and then to defeat the demon god, Ravana hated by all supernatural gods and goddesses alike. But it is not until the end of his epic journey that Rama remembers that his true essence is the god Narayana (Griffith, Book I, stz. 19). This is unlike Odysseus who was favored by the gods and knew of their help and their interest in him as he bore them many sacrifices in return. One such sacrifice being in the cave of the Cyclops as they awaited his return from shepherding his flock. â€Å"Then we kindled a fire, and made burnt-offering†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Homer,Odyssey,1950, Book IX, p. 132). Such offerings are made throughout the story before and after challenges are met. Once the Cyclops was defeated, Odysseus took the best ram for offering â€Å"†¦the ram for me alone my goodly-greaved company chose out, in the dividing of the sheep, and on the shore I offered him up to Zeus†¦. and I burnt the slices of the thighs. † (Homer, Odyssey,1950, Book IX, p. 142). From this a conclusion could be drawn: it is expected of a hero to make offering to the gods who find favor with him. Likewise, Rama shows respect to the gods and his father, King Dasaratha, when he unfailingly responds to their commands without question. When asked by Queen Kaikeyi if he promises to honor his father’s vow and do his bidding, Rama replies, â€Å"I, at the bidding of my sire, Would cast my body to the fire, A deadly draught of poison drink, Or in the waves of ocean sink: If he command, it shall be done,My father and my king in one† (Griffith, Book II, stz. 8). Rama leaves for his banishment without delay and without question to honor his father’s vow to Kaikeyi. He meets his challenges without hesitation and follows what the Indians name â€Å"dharma†, the will of the gods (Brockington, 1984, p. 33) or what the Greeks refer to as fate, a story of life darned out by the Muse (Homer, Iliad, 1950, p. 175). Both epics contain heroes who follow their dharma or fate without question and praise and honor their gods. It is when the heroes anger or disrespect the gods that evil befalls them. For example, when Odysseus tells king Alcinous how he injured Cyclops and this angered the creature’s father, Poseidon who aided Cyclops as he attacked the ship with hilltop and large boulder causing waves to drive the ship back to shore. (Homer, Odyssey,1950, Book IX, p. 141-2). Or when Rama slays the giant and angers the demon king Ravan, because Rama is vigilant in his respect to the gods, he overcomes the challenges brought before him when his wife is stolen from him. Rama is the example of true dharma and a great hero to the Indian religion of Hindu. Brockington, 1984, p. 8). Odysseus and Rama both face a great journey and banishment. Odysseus takes twenty years to return from the battle of Troy and suffers many hardships along the way that detain him from reaching his homeland for which he desires. One such suffering be at the hands of Calypso on the Isle Ogygia for seven years where she forced his stay as he had no means by which to depart until Calypso was bade by the gods to sent him adrift on a raft (Homer, Odyssey,1950, Book V, pp. 74-75. Among these misadventures that halted Odysseus’ return, was the Isle of the Lotus-Eaters, where the men ate of the Lotus which made them lose their desire to continue their journey home, and the Sirens who attempted to attract them to their own deaths (Homer, Odyssey, Book IX, p. 128-130). The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus’ journey home once he has befallen these challenges after the War of Troy. This journey takes more time as he meets hardships mostly set upon him by Poseidon, who â€Å"†¦. saw Odysseus as he sailed over the deep; and he was mightily angered in spirit†¦. (Homer, Odyssey, Book V, p. 79) and reveals â€Å"it must be that the gods at the last have changed their purposes concerning Odysseus†¦. But methinks that even yet I will drive him far enough in the path of suffering† (Homer, Odyssey, 1950, p. 79). Thus another journey begins and Odysseus is troubled once again, taking a total of twenty years before he reaches his homeland. If not for Athena’s aid and the aid of the other gods, Odysseus would not have been successful. Rama is also taken from his homeland. On the eve of his preparations to take over the throne for his father, one of his father’s other wives, Queen Kaikeyi , to whom King Dasaratha owes two vows as she had saved his life previously, beseeches the king to throne her son, Bharat and exile Rama for fourteen years to the forest. â€Å"These rites in Ramas name begun Transfer them, and enthrone my son. The time is come to claim at last The double boon of days long-past, When Gods and demons met in fight. And thou wouldst fain my care requite. Now forth to Dandaks forest drive Thy Rama for nine years and five, And let him dwell a hermit there†¦. (Griffith, Book II, stz. 11). With these words Kaikeyi reminds Dasaratha of his promise to her when she saved his life by caring for a fatal wound. She then asks for her son to be throned without challenge from Rama and also that Rama be exiled for fourteen years to live as a hermit in the forest. Kaikeyi only does such a greedy act because her maid Manthara has convinced her that horrible tidings await her future and that of her son if Bharat does not take the throne and Rama is enthroned (Griffith, Book II, stzs. -8). Still, honoring his father’s lamenting bid, Rama departs, ready to make a life anew with his wife and his one half-brother, Lakshmana (Griffith, Book II, stz. 19). As did Odysseus, so did Rama face many sufferings once he left in exile and his journey was not yet over. Sita, his wife, is stolen from him while he is away. Thus Rama, takes on the tasks of allying with the monkey armies to have aid in finding and saving his beloved wife. Then he faces Ravan, the demon king, to save her (Griffi th, Book IV, V, VI). Odysseus’ and Rama’s stories both reveal the importance of a warrior’s weaponry and strength in their respective cultures. When Odysseus returns home, with the deviousness of Athena, he and his son and wife, Telemachus and Penelope, devise a contest to prove his identity so that Odysseus may overtake his kingdom of Ithaca once more. Whosoever can string Odysseus’ prominent bow will have Penelope for his wife and all the kingdom of Odysseus for his own. So does Penelope set the bow and quiver before the wooers. And one by one they attempt to string Odysseus’ mighty bow. But none can accomplish this feat. Once Telemachus convinces the wooers to let the beggar who is his disguised father attempt the feat, â€Å"†¦. Odysseus straightaway bent the great bow, all without effort, and took it in his right hand and proved the bow string, which rang sweetly at the touch, in tone like a swallow â€Å" (Homer, Odyssey, 1950, Book XXI, p. 336). All at once he revealed his true identity and all was lost to the suitors of his wife.

The Dandelion :: essays research papers fc

The Dandelion, of the genus Taraxacum and the class Magnoliopsida is a close relative of the Sunflower. The name, Dandelion comes from the French phrase for  ¡Ã‚ ¥Teeth of Lion ¡Ã‚ ¦, dent de lion, due to the likeness of the shape of the plant ¡Ã‚ ¦s leaves and a lion ¡Ã‚ ¦s canine teeth, whilst its generic name, Taraxacum Officinale was influenced by the plant ¡Ã‚ ¦s many medical properties. Taraxacum meaning  ¡Ã‚ ¥disorder-remedy ¡Ã‚ ¦ and Officinale, stating that the plant has medicinal attributes. Other popular names for this plant include swine snout, priest ¡Ã‚ ¦s crown and pissabed. Framed by shiny, hairless, jagged leaves, the bare, hollow, magenta-tinted stems (that hold up the flower heads) carry bright yellow caps of countless tiny tie-shaped golden petals, which after fertilization, mature into white fluffy balls containing seeds. The leaves that rise from the tap root are naturally positioned for rain to slide straight into it, thus keeping itself well fed. This  ¡Ã‚ §common meadow herb ¡Ã‚ ¨ originated from Greece and was introduced to  ¡Ã‚ §all parts of the north temperate zones ¡Ã‚ ¨ . Now they are so abundant that they crowd and strangle fields almost all over the world, and have made a name for itself as the  ¡Ã‚ §King of Weeds ¡Ã‚ ¨. The Dandelion, surprisingly, has a large number of uses, both nutritional and medicinal. Back in the olden days and even now, the entire plant was utilized. Wine was extracted from the flowers; the leaves were used as vegetables, while the stems and roots were mainly used as medicine. Nowadays in Western medicine, this herb is hardly mentioned but usage of it for culinary purposes is still blooming, especially in European countries such as France. Nutrition-wise, the Dandelion caters to both the animal kingdom and humans. They provide pollen and nectar for bees throughout spring and even until late autumn, when the bees ¡Ã‚ ¦ usual sources of honey stop blooming. This lessens the time in which the bees ¡Ã‚ ¦ require artificial food, thus benefiting beekeepers. Dandelions ¡Ã‚ ¦ do not only attract bees, but research has confirmed that over 93 types of insects rely on its nectar, whilst animals, such as small birds, pigs, goats and rabbits devour it avariciously. The leaves can be torn to bits and used as filling of sandwiches; they are also used to create Herb beer that, compared to normal beer, is much cheaper and less likely to make a person drunk. The wine strengthens and invigorates, being a tonic, improving blood circulation. The taproot, after being dried, chopped, roasted and grounded into fine powder has been discovered to be an  ¡Ã‚ §almost indistinguishable ¡Ã‚ ¨1 substitute for real coffee.

Dreams and Omens in The Hobbit and Julius Caesar Essay

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien is an adventure story about Bilbo Baggins, who is a mythical creature called a hobbit. Bilbo goes on an adventure with thirteen dwarves and a wizard to capture a treasure from a dragon. Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare is a play about Julius Caesar, a real Roman Emperor who is assassinated by political enemies that he thinks are his friends. These stories are very different, but in both dreams and omens are very important. The dreams in The Hobbit and Julius Caesar are similar because they show what happens if you do not pay attention to what is going on around you and what happens if you do not listen to warnings in dreams. In The Hobbit, when they first get to the cave in the Misty Mountains, the dwarves, Bilbo, and Gandolf all look around to see if it is safe. Since they do not find anyone inside, they decide it is ok to sleep there. At first Biblo has a hard time falling asleep. Once he does, he has a bad dream. In his dream, â€Å"a crack in the wall at the back of the cave got bigger and bigger, and opened wider and wider. † After that, â€Å"he dreamed that the floor of the cave was giving way, and he was slipping—beginning to fall down. † When Bilbo wakes up, he sees that part of his dream is actually happening. Their ponies are being lead away through a crack in the cave wall, and soon the same thing happens to the dwarves and Bilbo (Tolkien, 59). Since Biblo had a hard time falling asleep, it seems like he knew something was wrong, but did not know what it was. In the dream though the problem became obvious. Later, Bilbo dreams about black bears dancing around when Beorn and other bears are outside the window having a meeting. Part if this is because J. R. R. Tolkien once said that he made hobbits â€Å"small in size because it reflects the generally small reach of their imaginations—not the small reach of their courage or latent power† (Carpenter, 180). Many of Bilbo’s dreams are not very imaginative. Except the one dream he has were he is looking for something in his house, he usually either dreams of something that is actually happening, like went he dreams of â€Å"a warrior, altogether insignificant in size but provided with a bitter sword and great courage† (215) or he dreams of food because he is very hungry (152). In the play Julius Caesar, Cassius and Brutus are plotting to kill Caesar, but Julius Caesar thinks they are his friends. When they are all standing together, the Soothsayer tells Caesar â€Å"Beware the ides of March† (I. ii. 18). It would be impossible for Caesar to know the day that Cassius and Brutus were going to kill him, but if Caesar were paying more attention, he might have noticed that they were not really his friends and were going to try to overthrow him. One difference in the role of omens and dreams in Julius Caesar and The Hobbit is how the characters react to them. In Julius Caesar people notice the bad omens and dream but ignore them. For example, when the Soothsayer tells Caesar to beware of the ides of March, Caesar tells everyone to ignore him. Also, when Calphurnia tells Caesar she has had a bad dream and he should not leave the house, Caesar first disagrees with her, and then tells her he will stay home. Then when Decius makes fun of him for listening to his wife’s dreams, and says â€Å"that for Caesar to withdraw would make him seem frightened in the eyes of the Roman plebeians, Caesar hurriedly agrees to go to the Senate† (Cahn, 15). When Caesar gets to the Senate, the men there kill him. In The Hobbit, the dreams are different. Either they are like the one Bilbo has in the cave and cannot be ignored, or they are about something that Bilbo and the dwarves can do nothing about, like hunger, and so they have to be ignored. The one time that they do have notice about an omen is when Elrond tells them how to enter the Lonely Mountain. When it is finally time, they do what he told them to do, and get into the secret entrance (209). Dreams and omens are very important in Julius Caesar and The Hobbit because they sometimes show the characters something that they did not realize. In Julius Caesar, the characters have enough notice about what is going to happen, but they ignore the meanings of the dreams and omens and Julius Caesar dies because he does everything they tell him not to do. In The Hobbit, the characters do not usually have enough time to do anything about the dreams because they have them about things that are already happening, but when they do have a chance, they listen to the omen from Elrond and are able to enter the Lonely Mountain. In both books, the omens and dreams are right, and the characters have to decide if they want to follow them. If they do not follow them bad things happen, but if they do, they can be successful. Bibliography Cahn, Victor, The plays of Shakespeare: A Thematic Guide, Westport, CT: Greenwood Press 2003. Carpenter, Humphrey, J. R. R. Tolkien: A Biography, New York: Harcourt Press 2000. Shakespeare, William, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, New York: Penguin 2000. Tolkien, J. R. R. The Hobbit, New York: Ballantine Books 1996.

The Hunters: Phantom Chapter 12

â€Å"It's going to be a lovely day – perfect for a picnic,† Meredith observed calmly. Bonnie had tactful y but firmly steered Celia into Matt's car instead of Meredith's, and so Meredith was alone with Alaric – at last! – for the first time since he'd arrived. Half of her just wanted to pul off the road, grab Alaric, and kiss him and kiss him, she was so glad that he was final y here. Al through the insanity of the last few months, she'd wished that he were there to fight by her side, to depend on. But the other half of her wanted to pul off the road, grab Alaric, and demand that he explain to her exactly what his relationship was with Dr. Celia Connor. Instead, here she was, driving placidly, hands at ten and two on the steering wheel, making smal talk about the weather. She felt like a coward, and Meredith Suarez was no coward. But what could she say? What if she was just paranoid, and making a ridiculous fuss about a strictly professional relationship? She glanced at Alaric out of the corner of her eye. â€Å"So†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she said. â€Å"Tel me more about your research in Japan.† Alaric ran his hands through his already tousled hair and grinned at her. â€Å"The trip was fascinating,† he said. â€Å"Celia's so intel igent and experienced. She just puts together al these clues about a civilization. It was a real eye-opener for me to watch her decipher so much from the evidence in the graves there. I never knew much about forensic anthropology before, but she was able to reconstruct an amazing amount about the culture of Unmei no Shima.† â€Å"Sounds like she's simply amazing,† Meredith said, hearing the acid in her tone. Apparently Alaric didn't notice it. He smiled a little. â€Å"It took quite a while for her to take my paranormal research seriously,† he said rueful y. â€Å"Parapsychology isn't particularly wel regarded by the experts in other scientific disciplines. They think people like me who choose to spend their lives studying the supernatural are charlatans, or naive. Or a little crazy.† Meredith made herself speak pleasantly. â€Å"You were able to convince her at last, though? That's good.† â€Å"Sort of,† Alaric answered. â€Å"We got to be friends, anyway, so she stopped thinking I was a complete fraud. I think she's found it al a lot more believable after the one day she's spent here, though.† He gave a wry smile. â€Å"She tried to hide it, but she was blown away yesterday when Stefan saved her. The existence of a vampire makes it clear that there's a lot conventional science knows nothing about. I'm sure she'l want to examine Stefan if he'l let her.† â€Å"I would imagine so,† said Meredith dryly, resisting the urge to ask Alaric why he thought Stefan would cooperate when he had seemed so displeased that Alaric had told Celia about him. Alaric slid a hand across the car seat until he was close enough to run a finger gently along Meredith's arm. â€Å"I learned a lot while I was gone,† he said earnestly, â€Å"but I'm real y more concerned about what's going on right now in Fel ‘s Church.† â€Å"You mean this dark magic that is supposedly rising here?† Meredith asked. â€Å"I mean the dark magic that seems to be targeting you and Celia,† Alaric said forceful y. â€Å"I'm not sure either of you is taking it seriously enough.† Me and Celia, thought Meredith. He's just as worried about her as he is about me. Maybe more. â€Å"I know we've faced danger in the past, but I feel responsible for Celia,† Alaric went on. â€Å"I brought her here, and I'd never be able to forgive myself if something happened to her.† Definitely more, Meredith thought bitterly, and shrugged off Alaric's hand. She instantly regretted the motion. What was the matter with her? This wasn't who she was. She'd always been the calm, rational one. Now here she was feeling like, wel , like a jealous girlfriend. â€Å"And now it's threatening you, too,† Alaric went on. He tentatively touched her knee, and this time Meredith let his hand stay. â€Å"Meredith, I know how strong you are. But it's terrifying to me that this doesn't seem to be the kind of enemy we're used to. How can we fight what we can't even see?† â€Å"Al we can do is be vigilant,† Meredith said. Her training had been comprehensive, but even she didn't understand this new evil. Yet she knew how to protect herself much better than Alaric realized. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. His window was open a crack, and the breeze ruffled his sandy hair. They knew each other so wel , yet he stil didn't know her biggest secret. For a moment she considered tel ing him, but then he turned to her and said, â€Å"Celia's putting on a brave face, but I can tel she's scared. She's not as tough as you are.† Meredith stiffened. No, this wasn't the right time to tel Alaric that she was a hunter-slayer. Not when she was driving. Not when she was this angry. Suddenly his hand felt heavy and clammy on her knee, but she knew she couldn't push it off again without betraying her feelings. Inside, though, she was raging at how the conversation kept coming back to Celia. Alaric had thought of her first. And even when he was talking about the danger to Meredith, he couched it in terms of what had happened to Celia. Alaric's voice became a buzz in the background as Meredith clutched the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles whitened. Real y, why was she surprised that Alaric had feelings for Celia? Meredith wasn't blind. She could be objective. Celia was smart, accomplished, beautiful. Celia and Alaric were in the same place in their lives. Meredith hadn't even started col ege yet. She was attractive – she knew that – and certainly intel igent. But Celia was al that and more: She was Alaric's equal in a way Meredith couldn't be just yet. Sure, Meredith was a vampire hunter. But Alaric didn't know that. And when he did know, would he admire her strength? Or would he turn away from her, scared of her abilities, and toward someone more academic, like Celia? A black bubble of misery fil ed Meredith's chest. â€Å"I'm beginning to think I should take Celia away from here if I can get her to leave.† Alaric sounded reluctant, but Meredith could hardly hear him. She felt as cold as if she were being enveloped in a fog. â€Å"Maybe I should get her back to Boston. I think you should leave Fel ‘s Church, too, Meredith, if you can convince your family to let you go away for the rest of the summer. You could come with us, or maybe there's a relative you could stay with if your family wouldn't like that. I'm worried that you aren't safe here.† â€Å"Nothing's happened to me yet,† said Meredith, surprised by the calm of her own voice, when such dark emotions were boiling inside her. â€Å"And I have a responsibility to be here and protect the town. If you think Celia wil be safer away from here, do what you and she think is best. But you know there's no guarantee that whatever's threatening us won't fol ow her somewhere else. And at least here there are people who believe in the danger. â€Å"Besides,† she added thoughtful y, â€Å"the threat to Celia may be over. Maybe once the attack is averted, it moves on to someone else. My name didn't appear until after Stefan saved Celia. If so, then the danger is only to me.† Not that you care, she thought viciously, and was surprised at herself. Of course Alaric cared. It was just that he seemed to care about what happened to Celia more. Her fingernails cut into her palms around the steering wheel as she careful y fol owed Stefan's car off the road and toward the parking lot for Hot Springs. â€Å"Stop!† Alaric shouted, panic in his voice, and Meredith automatical y slammed on the brakes. The car squealed to a halt. â€Å"What?† Meredith gasped. â€Å"What is it?† And then she saw her. Dr. Celia Connor had gotten out of Matt's car to cross to the path up to the springs. Meredith had come speeding right toward her. Only inches from Meredith's front bumper, Celia was frozen, her pretty face gray with fear, her mouth a perfect O. One more second, and Meredith would have kil ed her.

Bella Abzug - Activist and Member of Congress

Bella Abzug - Activist and Member of Congress Bella Abzug Facts: Known for: feminism, peace activism, first Jewish Congresswoman (1971-1976), organization founder, instituted Womens Equality Day. Her large hats and fiery personality brought her considerable public attention. Occupation: member of the US House of Representatives, lawyer, writer, news commentatorDates: July 24, 1920 - March 31, 1998Education:  Hunter College: B.A., 1942. Columbia University Law School: L.L.B., 1947.Honors:  Editor of Columbia Law Review; National Womens Hall of Fame, 1994Also known as: Bella Savitsky Abzug; Bella S. Abzug; Battling Bella; Hurricane Bella; Mother Courage Bella Abzug Biography: Born Bella Savitsky in the Bronx, New York, she attended public school and then Hunger College.   There she became active in Zionist activism. She started Columbia University Law School in 1942, then interrupted her education for a wartime shipyard job. After marriage to Martin Abzug, then a writer, and she returned to Columbia Law School and graduated in 1947. She was editor of the Columbia Law Review.admitted to the New York Bar in 1947. In her legal career, she worked in labor law and for civil rights. In the 1950s she defended some accused by Senator Joseph McCarthy of Communist associations. While pregnant, she went to Mississippi to try to stave off a death sentence for  Willie McGee.   He was a black man accused of raping a white woman. She continued her work on his case despite death threats, and was able to win stays of execution twice, though he was put to death in 1951. While working against Willie McGees death sentence, Bella Abzug adopted her custom of wearing hats with wide brims, as a way of signaling that she was a working lawyer and should be taken seriously. In the 1960s, Bella Abzug helped to found Women Strike for Peace, and she worked as a legislative director, organizing protests and lobbying for disarmament and against the Vietnam War.   In Democratic politics she was part of the Dump Johnson movement in 1968, working for alternative peace candidates to challenge Lyndon B. Johnsons renomination. In 1970, Bella Abzug was elected to the U.S. Congress from New York, with support from the reformers within the Democratic Party. Her slogan was This womans place is in the House. She won the primary, though she was not expected to, and then defeated an incumbent who had held the seat for many years, despite his accusations she was anti-Israel. In Congress, she was especially noted for her work for the Equal Rights Amendment  (ERA), national day care centers, ending sex discrimination, and working mothers priorities.   Her outspoken defense of the ERA, and her work for peace, as well as her trademark hats and her voice, brought her widespread recognition. Bella Abzug also worked against American involvement in the Vietnam War and against the Selective Service System, as a junior member of the Armed Services Committee. She challenged the seniority system, ending up as chair of the House subcommittee on government information and individual rights. She advocated for separate statehood for New York City and helped to win the Sunshine Law and the Freedom of Information Act. She lost the primary in 1972, with her district redrawn so she would compete with a strong incumbent Democrat.   She then won an election for the seat when the candidate who had defeated her died before the fall election. Bella Abzug ran for the Senate in 1976, losing to Daniel P. Moynihan, and in 1977 was defeated in a primary bid for the office of mayor of New York City. In 1978 she again ran for Congress, in a special election, and was not elected In 1977-1978 Bella Abzug served as co-chair of the National Advisory Committee on Women. She was fired by President Jimmy Carter, who had originally appointed her, when the committee openly criticized Carters budget for cutting womens programs. Bella Abzug returned to private practice as a lawyer until 1980, and served for a time as a television news commentator and magazine columnist. She continued her activism work, particularly in feminist causes.   She attended international womens caucuses at Mexico City in 1975, Copenhagen in 1980, Nairobi in 1985, and her last major contribution was at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China. Bella Abzugs husband died in 1986.   Her health failing for several years, she died in 1996. Family: Parents: Emanuel Savitsky  and Esther Tanklefsky  Savitsky. Husband: Maurice M. (Martin) Abzug (1944). Children: Eve Gail, Isobel Jo.Places: New York Organizations/Religion: Russian-Jewish heritageFounder, Women Strike for Peace (1961)Co-founder, National Womens Political CaucusCo-chair, Presidents National Advisory Committee for Women, 1978-79President: Women-USAWomens Foreign Policy CouncilNational Commission on the Observance of International Womens YearCommentator, Cable News Network (CNN)Also: National Organization for Women, National Urban League, American Civil Liberties Union, Hadassah, Bnai Brith Bibliography: Bella Abzug and Mim Kleber. Gender Gap: Bella Abzugs Guide to Political Power for American Women. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1984.  Paperback.   Hardcover. Bella Abzug and Mel Ziegler. Bella!: Ms. Abzug Goes to Washington. New York: Saturday Review Press, 1972.Doris Faber. Bella Abzug. Childrens book.  Hardcover.   Illustrated.

Is Stanford an Ivy League School Is Duke MIT

Is Stanford an Ivy League School Is Duke MIT SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Most people have at leastheard of theIvy League, but not everyone knows which schools belong to the venerable group. Is Stanford Ivy League? Is Duke Ivy League? Is MIT Ivy League? In this article, we'll answer these questions and more as we take a look atwhich schools comprise the world-renowned Ivy Leagueand which schools are most often mistaken forIvy League institutions.We'll also explore what being in the Ivy League means for schools and how Ivy League schools compare with those not in the Ivy League in terms ofnational rankings and selectivity. Is Stanford Ivy League? What About Duke and MIT? Contrary to what you might think, none of these schools are in the Ivy League.But thisdoesn't mean that Stanford, Duke, and MIT are not prestigious schools; rather, it simply means they're not affiliated with theIvy League. Confused? Let’s begin by looking at what the Ivy League is and why it was formed. The Ivy League (often called the Ivies) is a consortium of eight private universities based inthe northeast region of the US.Itsmembers are as follows: Brown University Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth College Harvard University Princeton University University of Pennsylvania Yale University All Ivy League schools are extremely selective and highly ranked- but this wasn’t the initial motivation behind the schools’ unification. The Ivy League (or the â€Å"Ivy Group,† as it was once called) originated as an athletic conference back in the 1950s. Over the years, the phrase has come to be associated with more general notions of prestige, selectivity, and academia due to the esteemed reputations of its members. Essentially, "Ivy League" is nothing more than aname for this particular group of schools- that’s it! While Stanford, Duke, and MIT are all clearly prestigious schools with high national rankings and low selectivity rates comparable to those of Ivy League schools, they are notIvy League schools simplybecause they are not members of the Ivy League. Of course, thisdoesn't stoppeople fromassuming they're Iviesdue to their many similarities! Ultimately, though,no matter how prestigious or competitive a school is, if it’s not one of the eight schools listed above, then it is not an Ivy League school. Even ifa school soundslike it could be an Ivy, that doesn't mean it actually is one! What Schools Are Often Mistaken for Ivy League Schools? Stanford, Duke, and MIT are not the only schools often thought to belong to the Ivy League. Other schools commonly mistaken for those in the Ivy League are those that are: Highly ranked and extremely selective. Ivies are almost always ranked in the top 15 nationally, with acceptance rates below15%. Schools commonly mistaken for Ivies tend to be those with similar rankings and acceptance rates- sometimes despite not even being located in the northeast where the Ivy League is based. Located in or near the northeast. All Ivies are in the northeast, but not all schools in the northeast are Ivies! Highly acclaimed or well-known schools in Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and other nearby states are often mistakenly assumedto belong to the Ivy League. Below is a chart containing all Ivy League schools and those commonly believed to beIvies. I've included each school's location, US News ranking, and acceptance rate so that you can easily compare Ivies with non-Ivies. TheIvy League schools have beenbolded for clarity. School Location US News National Ranking(2019) Acceptance Rate Princeton Princeton, NJ 1 6% Harvard Cambridge, MA 2 5% Columbia New York, NY 3 (tie) 6% MIT Cambridge, MA 3 (tie) 7% University of Chicago Chicago, IL 3 (tie) 7% Yale New Haven, CT 3 (tie) 6% Stanford Stanford, CA 7 4% Duke Durham, NC 8 (tie) 8% UPenn Philadelphia, PA 8 (tie) 8% Johns Hopkins Baltimore, MD 10 (tie) 10% Northwestern Evanston, IL 10 (tie) 8% Caltech Pasadena, CA 12 (tie) 8% Dartmouth Hanover, NH 12 (tie) 9% Brown Providence, RI 14 (tie) 8% Vanderbilt Nashville, TN 14 (tie) 9% Cornell Ithaca, NY 16 (tie) 11% Rice Houston, TX 16 (tie) 16% Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN 18 19% UCLA Los Angeles, CA 19 (tie) 16% Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MO 19 (tie) 16% Emory Atlanta, GA 21 22% Georgetown Washington, DC 22 (tie) 16% UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA 22 (tie) 17% USC Los Angeles, CA 22 (tie) 16% Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh, PA 25 (tie) 22% Tufts Medford, MA 27 (tie) 15% University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 27 (tie) 27% NYU New York, NY 30 (tie) 21% Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA 38 (tie) 28% College of William Mary Williamsburg, VA 38 (tie) 37% Boston University Boston, MA 42 (tie) 25% Penn State* University Park, PA 59 (tie) 50% Amherst Amherst, MA 2 (National Liberal Arts Colleges) 13% Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY 11 (tie) (National Liberal Arts Colleges) 24% *This school, though not as selective as the others in this table, is sometimes mistaken for the University of Pennsylvania (also called Penn)- one of the eight Ivy League schools- due to its similar name. As you can see, Ivy League schools generally stick to the top 15 positions of nationally ranked universities, with most of them in the top 10.Additionally, all Ivy League schools are extremely selective; the lowest acceptance rate for an Ivy is just 5% for Harvard, while the highest acceptance rate is 11% for Cornell. This table also indicates thatthere are many schools that are just as good as, if not better than, Ivy League schools- which explainswhy schools such as Stanford and MIT are frequently confused for Ivies. For example, MIT and the University of the Chicago are currently ranked #3, tied with Columbia and Yale and beating out five other Ivies! Similarly, Stanford, Duke, Johns Hopkins, and Northwestern are all ranked fairly highly at #7, #8, #10, and #10, respectively, giving them rankings equal to or higher than Dartmouth, Brown, and Cornell. Stanford (not an Ivy) gets the award for most selective school with a mere 4% acceptance rate.That being said, after Stanford, the most selective schools on this list are all Ivies: Harvard (5%), Princeton (6%), Columbia (6%), and Yale (6%). Lastly,this table shows us thatschools are sometimes mistaken for Ivies due to their beingin the northeast.Examples of such schools include the highly selective Johns Hopkins, Amherst, and Georgetown, in addition to someslightly less selective (but popular and prestigious) schools such as NYU and Boston University. Ivies and non-Ivies are like two different flavors of cookies: they may be different, but they're both equally delicious! Recap: Is Duke Ivy League? Is MIT Ivy League? Stanford, Duke, MIT, and many other well-known universitiesare often mistaken for Ivy League schools due to their superior academic reputations and high selectivity. But in reality, the Ivy League consists of just eight extremely selective schools, which are alllocated in the northeast.Once again, these schools are as follows: Brown University Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth College Harvard University Princeton University University of Pennsylvania Yale University Although the Ivy League is generally associated with prestige and high rankings, this doesn’t mean non-Ivies can't be as good as or even better than Ivies.Many non-Ivies, such asStanford and the University of Chicago, are actually ranked higher than Ivies and maintain similar (or even lower!) acceptance rates. Ultimately,the Ivy League is just a name for a particular group of schools that just so happen to share strong rankings and low acceptance rates.When it comes down to it, any top-tier school- Ivy or otherwise- is an excellent choice for college! What’s Next? Want to make a great impression on the Ivy League?Learn what a good SAT/ACT score is for the Ivy League, and get tips on what classes you should take in high schoolin order to impress admissions committees. Ready to apply to a top-tier school?Awesome!Now all you need is some step-by-step advice. Check out our in-depth guides on how to get into the Ivy Leagueand how to get into Stanford- both written by admitted applicantsto these schools! Want to stand apart from other applicants?Learnhow to score aperfect 1600 on the SAT, so you can increase your shot at getting into the school of your dreams! Want to learn more about the SAT but tired of reading blog articles? Then you'll love our free, SAT prep livestreams. Designed and led by PrepScholar SAT experts, these live video events are a great resource for students and parents looking to learn more about the SAT and SAT prep. Click on the button below to register for one of our livestreams today!

Finance and Investment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Finance and Investment - Essay Example Based on the given information, it appears that all projects are viable because of the positive NPV. In selecting the best project, the highest NPV has to be considered. In this situation, Project B is expected to provide more gains. Its NVP is more than double compared to the NPV of Project A. This means that benefits generated by Project B are twice greater than Project A. In practice, there are several aspects that can affect the determination of the coefficients. First, the inflation rate is one of the indicators used to identify the coefficient. Basically, considering the inflation rate changes the value of the principal as time progresses. Usually, the interest rate changes the amount that is expected to be gained from an investment when the benefits of the venture are realized in an installment basis. Second, the interest rates are also valuable aspects in determining of the coefficient. This happens when the project is financed by debt. It is imperative that the interest rate will serve as factor. A. Usually, senior executives view the different valuation methods to be similar. The most extensively used among the schemes is the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) because of its inclination to be flexible and accurate. Some instances, however, suggests that several aspects affect the precision of the forecasts. Benchmarking the methods used by the company to its competitors is a viable scheme to arrive at more accurate predictions. The process when correctly manifested enables the company to determine mismatches in performance and strategically determine its position in the industry. Using multiples analysis provides insights that contribute in creating value in the industry. Multiples analysis is often miscomprehended and misused. Several analysts have failed to consider minor details that have great impact on the end result. Given this limitation, the companies can address the deficiency through meticulous designing of the multiples analysis. A prominent design was developed by Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) which tracks the stock movements among US firms. Another important problem observed in multiples analysis is that the method results to several varying conclusions. Overall, multiples analysis remains as an important component of DCF which accurately determines the future gains of investments. B. One of the main uses of multiples analysis is on predicting the price of stock markets. It assumes that the same prospects apply to the firm being studied. This appears to be limited because such has never been the situation for some firms. Using the same prospect makes the forecasting limited. In effect, it will difficult to arrive at an accurate result. In addition, it has been detected that the method tends to provide unexpected difference. In forecasting, the analyst draws conclusions that will like be observed. Multiples analysis becomes problematic because analysts fail to recognize the important differences after the results have been obtained. Amidst the use of multiples in DCF, its

Who Owns History The Texas Textbook Controversy Essay - 1

Who Owns History The Texas Textbook Controversy - Essay Example The question on how history should be taught was brought to the limelight by the state of Texas. The Texas State Board of Education, in charge of the state’s curriculum, approved several controversial changes to be made to the textbooks in schools. The changes were included in the economic, social studies and history textbooks. These ‘improvements’ made by the education board emphasizes the Christianitys influence in the founding of America (Hutchins et. al. 652). The changes downplay the role of liberals and highlight the influence of conservative groups in American history. These changes, for the Texan board, seem minimal with no consequences on the American history, but the opposite is true. These small changes and tweaks in their curriculum seek to re-write the American history significantly for the students in Texas. Furthermore, the state of Texas is among the country’s biggest purchasers of History textbooks. This means that the changes in the Texan curriculum will slowly reflect in all schools throughout the country. They exclude the influence and existence of Thomas Jefferson, one of the country’s founding fathers. The Texan board excludes his influence on the Declaration of Independence and other vital legislation (Hutchins et. al. 653). Jefferson is not the only culprit of the Texan board; they further scrap off presidential runs of Ralph Nader and Ross Perot in their history books. There is a complete exclusion of the roles of Latinos and other races in America History. The changes implemented in the Texan History textbooks are endless, but it is heavily characterized by the conservative Christian influences. By changing and rewriting history of the state of Texas, the Texan board rewrote the world’s history. These changes made by the Texan board question the legitimacy of history and the appropriate way of teaching the subject. It is a universally accepted