Analysis Of Those Winter Sundays By Baldwin Sonny s...

Sadighim,Candice English 2 Cramer 3 November 2015 Conflict and reconciliation in familial relationships in Literature Hayden’s ‘Those Winter Sundays’, Baldwin’ Sonny s blues and Grimm brothers’ Cinderella describes certain sensitive situations most families sometimes find themselves in when disagreeing on diverse issues that can be resolved when parties are determined to. In these pieces of literature, family conflicts are portrayed as simple disagreements that in certain cases result in family break-ups and unnecessary hostilities. These pieces of work are very explicit and affirm that in any situation where there are facts, inclinations, and distress, there is a relatively high possibility for conflicts to occur. However, contrary to the popular opinion, these fundamental causes of family conflicts are human-made and can be resolved when proper channels are followed in a collaborative manner as portrayed in these three literatures. Indeed, virtually all families are at one period of time obliged to pass through diverse everyday conflicts, but with determination a nd acceptance of mistakes, appropriate processes of reconciliation can be instituted and the family ultimately return back to normalcy. This piece of work by Grimm brothers describes a familial conflict pitting a step-mother and step-daughter who is obliged to unite after the sudden death of her birth mother. Grimm brothers rues the step-mother’s poor communication skills and lack of some important

Database Development Process Essay Example

Essays on Database Development Process Essay The paper "Database Development Process" is an outstanding example of an essay on information technology. Functional decomposition, conceptual schemas, enterprise data modeling, and the overall development lifecycle process are important terms related to database development. Each of these is discussed briefly in this paper. Functional decomposition is â€Å"the process of breaking down the functions of an organization into progressively greater levels of detail† (Singh, 2009, p.327). Each function is described in fine detail in terms of the other functions. The purpose is to breakdown the different modules to the simplest unit, which helps to eliminate redundancies, anomalies and any inconsistencies. Singh (2009) gives the algorithm for decomposing R, the universal relation schema, into D, the set of relation schemas which is the decomposition of R.A conceptual schema describes the data stored in a database management system in terms of its data model (Gupta, 2007, p.4). It is a description of the relations involved, the kind of records contained, and the method for deriving objects conceptually from the objects from an internal perspective. It is distinguished, therefore, from the physical and external schemas, which specify the storage details and define the logical records and relationships fr om an external view.However, the first step in developing a database is enterprise data modelling â€Å"in which the scope and general contents of organizational databases are specified† (ELAC, 2009). It is usually depicted by entity-relationship diagrams. The entire â€Å"process of designing, implementing and maintaining a database system to meet strategic or operational information needs of an organization or enterprise† (Singh, 2009, p.300) is known as the database development life cycle. As such, it is typically a part of the software development life cycle, and its typical components are shown in the diagram below and enumerated as under:Feasibility study and requirement analysis  - Database design- Database implement- Data and application conversion- Testing and validation- Monitoring and maintenanceDatabase development is clearly a process that requires careful planning commensurate with its complexity. The four terms discussed are all important parts or aspe cts to ensure the development process is as smooth and efficient as possible and which fulfills the users’ needs.

Correlation Essay Example For Students

Correlation Essay Computer Assignment #41st T-Test: The first test compares the sex of the offender being 1= male and 2=female, and the number of substances ever used. Hypothesis: In this test I hypothesize that males (1) will have a larger number of substances used compared to the females (2) population. Logic: According to past criminal studies comparing males and females with drug use/abuse, males are more likely to have a larger problem with substance abuse and variety. Data: According to the data set the p-value of the data; this was 0.004, is less then the alpha value of 0.05. We can conclude that since that the p-value is less than the alpha value there is correlation between sex and number of different substances used. According to the data males use a larger variety of substances than do females. 2nd T-Test: The second test compares the race of the offender: (1) being white (2) being black, to the number of different crimes committed in the past year. Hypothesis: In this test I hypothesize that blacks will have a larger amount of crimes committed in the past year according to the data. Logic: According to the data in previous studies, minorities are more likely to commit a larger amount of various crimes than compared to whites. Data: According to the data set the p-value of the data comparing race and the number of crimes in a year, the p-value is greater than the alpha value of 0.05 which means that there is no correlation between the race of the offender and the number of crimes committed per year. 1st Correlation: In this correlation we are comparing scale of association with pro-social peers and number of different problem behaviors ever participated in. Hypothesis: I hypothesize that there will be a correlation between number of different problem behaviors ever participated in and scale of association with pro-social peers. Logic: The larger amount of pro-social peers should affect the amount of problem behaviors in a positive manner. Data: According to the data there is a negative correlation between the tow variables. When pro-social peers scale increases, the problem behavior scale decreases. The correlation is weak because the p-value is 0. To have a strong correlation, you need a value of 0.5 or greater to be strong.

The Count Of Monte Cristo Essays (1284 words) -

The Count of Monte Cristo Theme: The Count of Monte Cristo is a very powerful book. So powerful in fact, that was controversial when it was first released. The Catholic church in France condemned it because of its powerful message it presented the reader. This theme was one of revenge and vengeance. Monte Cristo had two goals- to reward those who were kind to him and his aging father, and to punish those responsible for his imprisonment and suffering. For the latter, he plans slow and painful punishment. To have spent fourteen years barely subsisting in a dungeon demands cruel and prolonged castigation. Setting: The Count of Monte Cristo is set within the nineteenth century of France in large and populous cities. This was a time of great disruption. There was confusion all over the land in regards to who led France, King Louis or Napoleon. The citizens of France became divided by the two ruling parties. Royalists and the Bonapartist cut at each others throats in order to declare that their ruler was supreme. This situation has a profound effect on the events of the story. Dantes' enemies used the rivalry between the two parties in order to convince the Royalists that Edmond is a Bonapartist, therefore it is the basis for his arrest and inevitable captivity in the Chateau D'If.. Basic Plot: The Count of Monte Cristo is a story about a sailor, Edmond Dantes, who was betrayed during the prime of his life and career by the jealousy of his friends. His shipmate, Danglars, coveted his designation as the captain of the mighty Pharon. Ferdinand Mondego wished to wed Mercedes, who was affianced to Edmond. Danglars and Ferdinand wrote a letter accusing Edmond of carrying a letter from Elba to the Bonapartist committee in Paris. Caderousse, a neighbor, learned of the plot but kept silent. On his wedding day Edmond was arrested and taken before a deputy named Villefort, a political apostate, who, to protect himself, had Edmond secretly imprisoned in the deepest dungeons of the Chateau D'If. There Dantes' incarceration was secured by the plotting of his enemies outside the prison, particularly towards Villefort, who wished to cover up his own father's connections with the Bonapartists. Dantes suffered for fourteen grueling years. While in prison, he was determined to escape and began digging a tunnel in hopes that it would lead to freedom. During this exercise, he met an elderly inmate named Abbe Faria whose attempt to dig his way to his salvation had led him only to Edmond's cell. The two meet daily and an incredible relationship flourished. The old man taught Edmond history, mathematics, and languages. In Edmond's fourteenth year, Faria became mortally ill. The wise elder told Edmond where to find a massive buried fortune. When Faria finally did die, his body was placed in a burial sac. Edmond seized the opportunity of escaping and replaced Faria's corpse with himself. Jailers threw the sack into the sea which allowed Dantes to escape. He is rescued by a passing ship which gives him a position on the boat. After paying homage for the noble act, Dantes recovered the buried treasure and became extremely wealthy. He returned as the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo and dazzled all of Paris with his extreme wealth and social graces and also he ingeniously managed to be introduced to the cream of French society, among who he goes unrecognized. But, Monte Cristo, in contrariety, recognized all of his enemies, which now are all powerful and influential men. Therefore, he was slowly plotting the ruin of the four men who had caused him to be sent to the Chateau D'If. Ferdinand had married Mercedes and was now the Count de Morcef. Monte Cristo released information to the press that proved that Morcef is a traitor, and Morcef is ruined socially. Then Monte Cristo destroyed Morcef's relationship with his family, whom he adored. When they leave him, he was so distraught that he committed suicide. To revenge himself on Caderousse, Monte Cristo easily trapped Caderousse because of his voracious greed. Monte Cristo awakened this greed with the gift of a diamond. Later, urged by his wife, Caderousse committed robbery and murder. Now escaped from prison,

Free Essays on Finding Strength In Pain

â€Å"The Things They Carried† by Tim O’Brien is a story based on the grunts of Vietnam. The fear, death, and dishonor experienced by soldiers in Vietnam. What about the heartbreaking struggles of gay generations past and present who have dealt with the war on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the threat of getting Human Immune Virus (HIV), and the â€Å"dishonor† of dying from an unknown disease? How many gay men and women have attended the funeral of a significant other or friend who has died of AIDS? Homosexual men and women have felt the threat of dishonor and judgments just like the soldiers of Vietnam. This paper compares the burden of the Vietnam soldier to those living and dying with AIDS. Gays have been in the military as far back as World War II, some may say as far back as the time of Julius Caesar (Goldwater). Tim O’Brien describes the pounds and ounces of the items that every soldier carried in combat as well as the personal weight of the items each man carried. Likewise, the gay soldier also carried the weight of the â€Å"P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gun, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches ,sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates, two or three cans of water† and much more. First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross was able to carry the 10 ounce love letters from his â€Å"friend† Martha. Could the gay soldier carry the weight of such precious cargo? No, the military may be screening for sex perverts, gay letters written in code, or fearing homosexual witch hunts conducted by superiors. â€Å"Humping† day in and day out through land mines just like every other â€Å"grunt or leg† in Vietnam. Soldiers; gay men and women not only went through the land mines of Vietnam, they have gone through the land mines of the 80’s, 90’s and today. Beginning in the 80’s with the advent of â€Å"Don’t ask don’t tel... Free Essays on Finding Strength In Pain Free Essays on Finding Strength In Pain â€Å"The Things They Carried† by Tim O’Brien is a story based on the grunts of Vietnam. The fear, death, and dishonor experienced by soldiers in Vietnam. What about the heartbreaking struggles of gay generations past and present who have dealt with the war on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the threat of getting Human Immune Virus (HIV), and the â€Å"dishonor† of dying from an unknown disease? How many gay men and women have attended the funeral of a significant other or friend who has died of AIDS? Homosexual men and women have felt the threat of dishonor and judgments just like the soldiers of Vietnam. This paper compares the burden of the Vietnam soldier to those living and dying with AIDS. Gays have been in the military as far back as World War II, some may say as far back as the time of Julius Caesar (Goldwater). Tim O’Brien describes the pounds and ounces of the items that every soldier carried in combat as well as the personal weight of the items each man carried. Likewise, the gay soldier also carried the weight of the â€Å"P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gun, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches ,sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates, two or three cans of water† and much more. First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross was able to carry the 10 ounce love letters from his â€Å"friend† Martha. Could the gay soldier carry the weight of such precious cargo? No, the military may be screening for sex perverts, gay letters written in code, or fearing homosexual witch hunts conducted by superiors. â€Å"Humping† day in and day out through land mines just like every other â€Å"grunt or leg† in Vietnam. Soldiers; gay men and women not only went through the land mines of Vietnam, they have gone through the land mines of the 80’s, 90’s and today. Beginning in the 80’s with the advent of â€Å"Don’t ask don’t tel...

History and Origins of Wheat Domestication

History and Origins of Wheat Domestication Wheat is a grain crop with some 25,000 different cultivars in the world today. It was domesticated at least 12,000 years ago, created from a still-living ancestor plant known as emmer. Wild emmer (reported variously as T. araraticum, T. turgidum ssp. dicoccoides, or T. dicocoides), is a predominantly self-pollinating, winter annual grass of the Poaceae family and Triticeae tribe. It is distributed throughout the Near Eastern Fertile Crescent, including the modern countries of Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, eastern Turkey, western Iran, and northern Iraq. It grows in sporadic and semi-isolated patches and does best in regions with long, hot dry summers and short mild, wet winters with fluctuating rainfall. Emmer grows in diverse habitats from 100 m (330 ft) below sea level to 1700 m (5,500 ft) above, and can survive on between 200–1,300 mm (7.8–66 in) of annual precipitation. Wheat Varieties Most of the 25,000 different forms of modern wheat are varieties of two broad groups, called common wheat and durum wheat. Common or bread wheat Triticum aestivum accounts for some 95 percent of all the consumed wheat in the world today; the other five percent is made up of durum or hard wheat T. turgidum ssp. durum, used in pasta and semolina products. Bread and durum wheat are both domesticated forms of wild emmer wheat. Spelt (T. spelta) and Timopheevs wheat (T. timopheevii) were also developed from emmer wheats by the late Neolithic period, but neither has much of a market today. Another early form of wheat called einkorn (T. monococcum) was domesticated at about the same time but has limited distribution today. Origins of Wheat The origins of our modern wheat, according to genetics and archaeological studies, are found in the Karacadag mountain region of what is today southeastern Turkey- emmer and einkorn wheats are two of the classic eight founder crops of the origins of agriculture. The earliest known use of emmer was gathered from wild patches by the people who lived at the Ohalo II archaeological site in Israel, about 23,000 years ago. The earliest cultivated emmer has been found in the southern Levant (Netiv Hagdud, Tell Aswad, other Pre-Pottery Neolithic A sites); while einkorn is found in the northern Levant (Abu Hureyra, Mureybet, Jerf el Ahmar, Gà ¶bekli Tepe). Changes During Domestication The main differences between the wild forms and domesticated wheat are that domesticated forms have larger seeds with hulls and a non-shattering rachis. When wild wheat is ripe, the rachis- the stem that keeps the wheat shafts together- shatters so that the seeds can disperse themselves. Without hulls, they germinate rapidly. But that naturally useful brittleness doesnt suit humans, who prefer to harvest wheat from the plant rather than off the surrounding earth. One possible way that might have occurred is that farmers harvested wheat after it was ripe, but before it self-dispersed, thereby collecting only the wheat that was still attached to the plant. By planting those seeds the next season, the farmers were perpetuating plants that had later-breaking rachises. Other traits apparently selected for include spike size, growing season, plant height, and grain size. According to French botanist Agathe Roucou and colleagues, the domestication process also caused multiple changes in the plant that were generated indirectly. Compared to emmer wheat, modern wheat has shorter leaf longevity, and a higher net rate of photosynthesis, leaf production rate, and nitrogen content. Modern wheat cultivars also have a shallower root system, with a larger proportion of fine roots, investing biomass above rather than below ground. Ancient forms have built-in coordination between above and below ground functioning, but the human selection of other traits has forced the plant to reconfigure and build new networks. How Long Did Domestication Take? One of the ongoing arguments about wheat is the length of time it took for the domestication process to complete. Some scholars argue for a fairly rapid process, of a few centuries; while others argue that the process from cultivation to domestication took up to 5,000 years. The evidence is abundant that by about 10,400 years ago, domesticated wheat was in widespread use throughout the Levant region; but when that started is up for debate. The earliest evidence for both domesticated einkorn and emmer wheat found to date was at the Syrian site of Abu Hureyra, in occupation layers dated to the Late Epi-paleolithic period, the beginning of the Younger Dryas, ca 13,000–12,000 cal BP; some scholars have argued, however, that the evidence does not show deliberate cultivation at this time, although it does indicate a broadening of the diet base to include a reliance on wild grains including the wheat. Spread Around the Globe: Bouldnor Cliff The distribution of wheat outside of its place of origin is part of the process known as Neolithicization. The culture generally associated with the introduction of wheat and other crops from Asia to Europe is generally the Lindearbandkeramik (LBK) culture, which may have been made up of part immigrant farmers and part local hunter-gatherers adapting new technologies. LBK is typically dated in Europe between 5400–4900 BCE. However, recent DNA studies at Bouldnor Cliff peat bog off the northern coast of mainland England have identified ancient DNA from what was apparently domesticated wheat. Wheat seeds, fragments, and pollen were not found at Bouldnor Cliff, but the DNA sequences from the sediment match Near Eastern wheat, genetically different from LBK forms. Further tests at Bouldnor Cliff have identified a submerged Mesolithic site, 16 m (52 ft) below sea level. The sediments were laid down about 8,000 years ago, several centuries earlier than the European LBK sites. Scholars suggest that the wheat got to Britain by boat. Other scholars have questioned the date, and the aDNA identification, saying it was in too good a condition to be that old. But additional experiments run by British evolutionary geneticist Robin Allaby and preliminarily reported in Watson (2018) have shown that ancient DNA from undersea sediments is more pristine than that from other contexts.   Sources Avni, Raz, et al. Wild Emmer Genome Architecture and Diversity Elucidate Wheat Evolution and Domestication. Science, vol. 357, no. 6346, 2017, pp. 93–97. Print.International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium. A Chromosome-Based Draft Sequence of the Hexaploid Bread Wheat (Triticum Aestivum) Genome. Science, vol. 345, no. 6194, 2014. Print.Fuller, Dorian Q, and Leilani Lucas. Adapting Crops, Landscapes, and Food Choices: Patterns in the Dispersal of Domesticated Plants across Eurasia. Human Dispersal and Species Movement: From Prehistory to the Present. Eds. Boivin, Nicole, Rà ©my Crassard and Michael D. Petraglia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017. 304–31. Print.Huang, Lin, et al. Evolution and Adaptation of Wild Emmer Wheat Populations to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses. Annual Review of Phytopathology, vol. 54, no. 1, 2016, pp. 279–301. Print.Kirleis, Wiebke, and Elske Fischer. Neolithic Cultivation of Tetraploid Free Threshing Wheat in Denmark and Nort hern Germany: Implications for Crop Diversity and Societal Dynamics of the Funnel Beaker Culture. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, vol. 23, no.1, 2014, pp. 81–96. Print. Larson, Greger. How Wheat Came to Britain. Science, vol. 347, no.6225, 2015. Print.Marcussen, Thomas, et al. Ancient Hybridizations among the Ancestral Genomes of Bread Wheat. Science, vol. 345, no. 6194, 2014. Print.Martin, Lucie. Plant Economy and Territory Exploitation in the Alps During the Neolithic (5000–4200  cal Bc): First Results of Archaeobotanical Studies in the Valais (Switzerland). Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, vol. 24, no. 1, 2015, pp. 63–73. Print.Roucou, Agathe, et al. Shifts in Plant Functional Strategies over the Course of Wheat Domestication. Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 55, no. 1, 2017, pp. 25–37. Print. Smith, Oliver, et al. Sedimentary DNA from a Submerged Site Reveals Wheat in the British Isles 8000 Years Ago. Science, vol. 347, no. 6225, 2015, pp. 998–1001. Print.Watson, Traci. Inner Workings: Fishing for Artifacts beneath the Waves. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 115, no. 2, 2018, pp. 231-33. Pr int.

New Small Business Competes With Google, Bing and Yahoo Essay

New Small Business Competes With Google, Bing and Yahoo - Essay Example Gabriel Weinberg has established a mechanized that maximizes on the needs of its users, unlike the other search engines. A vast majority of search engines comprise of numerous ads that surround relevant pages, and personalized tracking. Gabriel Weinberg way was different from other search engines. He sought out to address the concerns of consumers that had queries while using these search engines. Gabriel Weinberg’s search engine proves to be a long time competitor to Google and other search engine. There is factual information to back this reasoning. Currently European and U.S officials have already begun criticizing practices that are considered to be monopolistic in nature. Google and other bigger search have been considered to be selective with regards to their star results. These are considered to favor some businesses and elbow out competitors. Additionally Gabriel Weinberg venture maintains that it will not track its users. A combination of these factors sheds light to the future. It is evident that this search engine will last and still be a long term foe to bigger search engines. As of late, the future holds good tidings for Gabriel Weinberg search engine over established ones. One major fact stands; it is a major threat to bigger search engines. Should Google not review their systems, facts prove that they may not be in

Cultural Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Cultural Identity - Essay Example It creates a certain stereotype that is more often not well justified or has no basis at all. My cultural identity is shaped and influenced by an ancient cultural Chinese tradition of filial obedience based on the teachings of Confucius, a feeling of belonging and affiliation with the entire Chinese nation, including the overseas Chinese in many other countries, and it is because of the Chinese civilization being the oldest continuously existing civilization in the world today, with its unique language (the most difficult to learn and master) and system of its writing (based on characters), and pride in resurgent China after two centuries of being under Western colonial powers. There is equality among sexual genders although under the present regime, families prefer baby boys to baby girls because of its one-child per family policy to help contain its ever-increasing large population. Although the Chinese people is composed of many ethnic groups, there is only one national language, which is Mandarin, and despite its huge geographic size, China officially has only one time z one (it covers five time zones) for easier governance and administration. A Chinese person is able to connect and feel an affinity with another Chinese anywhere in the world due to this single language for communication. I have come over to the United States of America as an international student, and one of my subjects in school is inter-cultural communications. This is the first time I experienced the concept of white privilege, in which people of the white race feel a sense of entitlement to all the good things in life, and taking these things for granted as something that is due to them (Martin 55) in a daily pattern of dominance, subordination, and privilege. It is unspoken type of privileged class, with white males looking down on the females (regardless of skin color) as sexual objects, made of

Natural Gas Essay Example for Free

Natural Gas Essay Qatar is known to have the third largest reserve in the world for natural gas. It is a colorless, shapeless, odorless gas in its natural form. Main property of this gas that made it so prized is its combustibility. When burned, natural gas emits a great deal of energy (NaturalGas. org, 2004). But not like fossil fuels, natural gas is a clean burning gas with lower level of potentially harmful byproducts is emitted into the air as resultant to the combustion process. Natural gas is usually composed of a mixture of combustible hydrocarbon gases. While natural gas is formed primarily of methane, it can also include ethane, propane, butane and pentane. The composition of natural gas can vary widely but in its purest form it is mainly composed of methane. Usually found under the earth, this gas is usually associated with oil deposits. Natural gas is another form of fossil fuel, like coal and oil, and is essentially the remains of plants and animals. Use of natural gas as an energy source comprises 24% of the total energy consumption in the US for the year 2000. Natural gas, with its varied usage and has many different applications for industrial, commercial and residential sectors, is vital component of the nations energy supply. PHOTOVOLTAICS Photovoltaic literally means light electricity, which was derived from the Greek words photo and volt. Photovoltaic materials and devices basically generate electricity by converting light or solar energy into electricity that can be utilized by devices requiring electrical power. It was discovered by a French physicist Edmond Becquerel on1839 while conducting an experiment involving electrolytic cell connected by two metals as electrodes. Since then harnessing of solar electricity has been developed and used (Solar_Energy_and_Technology_Program, 2005). Since the discovery of photoconductivity, solar energy has been harnessed to generate electricity. On 1873, Wilby Smith identified Selenium to demonstrate photoconductivity. Photovoltaic property was also observed Adams and Day to be exhibited by Selenium while in its solid form. The first solar cell was created by Charles Fritts on 1883, which was made from Selenium wafers (Corrosion_Doctors, 2007). PV was originally developed to provide power to devices on places that would require a renewable source of energy like in outer space. With the development of PV devices or solar devices, PV cells have been used in providing power to spacecrafts and devices. The first reported usage of PV cells was during 1959 for the Vanguard 1 satellite using silicon wafers in the solar device. This satellite lasted for 8 years in operation (Corrosion_Doctors, 2007). Since Vanguard 1 other spacecrafts and satellite were reported to utilize also PV technology in providing power to manned and unmanned crafts and satellites. PV generation is gaining increased importance as renewable source due to its advantages like absence of fuel cost, no noise or wear due to absence of moving parts and little maintenance. The world market for photovoltaic exceeded 200 MW in 1999 could rise to 650 MW in 2005 and 1800 MW in 2010 – provided that installed costs for grid-connected PV drop to less than US $4/ Wp in 2005 and $3 in 2010. The world grid-connected market grew to 110 MW in 2000, 400 MW in 2005 and will grow to 700 MW in 2010 provided the installed costs will decrease to $3/W by 2010. The following tables and graphs show a general idea of how the PV world market is growing and how the prices of PV modules/Wp is dropping since the year 1990 up until now and in the upcoming future. PV Cells PV cells or solar cells, composed of semiconductors that are made from crystalline solids, which permits electrical conduction when connected to two metals, are devices that converts solar or radiant energy into electrical energy. This thin wafer of semiconductor is chemically treated to produce negative charge on one side and positive charge on the other side. A p-n junction separates and connects the two oppositely charged sides. The process of converting sunlight into electricity is explained in three processes 1. Sunlight is absorbed by the thin semiconductor wafer. 2. Positive and negative charges are generated and are separated in the different parts of the cell. The movement of these particles generates voltage within the cell. 3. And, the electrical current generated by the separation of the charges is transferred to the intended device via the electrical terminals connected to the cell. When sunlight is absorbed by the solar cell, electron hole pairs are generated, and if their recombination is prevented they can reach the junction where they are separated. The electrons are moved into the front side or negative side of the cell. Commercial solar cells usually designate the negative side in the front part. The back or other side of the cells is designated as the positive side. When these two are connected electrical current flows between through wires connected to the electrical device. The current that flows is usually proportional on the intensity of the sunlight that the solar cell captures (Elwell Komp, 2007). The back contact or positive side is usually made of continuous layer of metal but the front contact, on the other hand is usually made into thin fingers. The front contacts are evenly spaced to allow the as much sunlight to reach the positive side of the cell. The cell is covered with an anti reflection coating to maximize the absorption of sunlight. A thin protective coating covers the cell to allow cleaning and maintenance (Elwell Komp, 2007). An example of a single solar cell structure is shown in figure 1. PV cells are manufactured in many shapes and sizes. Some are even smaller than a postage stamp. While there are individual cells that are many inches across. Interconnected PV cells form a PV module. Modules are interconnected to form a PV array. The module is designed to contain a number of Silicon cells interconnected as a series of thin layers. This is purposely intended to protect the solar cells from the ambient and as well as generate a higher voltage compared to a single cell, which delivers less than 1 volt. Arrays varies in the size that is needed dependent upon the amount of sunlight that the location is receiving and the needed power generated by the array depending the intended usage. The array is not just composed of the PV modules, which comprises the majority of the PV system, it also includes the electrical connection, mounting hardware, power-conditioning equipment and batteries that store the generated electricity intended for use during the times when the sun is not available or shining (Solar_Energy_and_Technology_Program, 2005). Crystalline silicon solar cells are used in more than half of all solar electric devices. Like most semiconductor devices, they include a positive layer (on the bottom) and a negative layer (on the top) that create an electrical field inside the cell. When a photon of light strikes a semiconductor, it releases electrons (see animation). The free electrons flow through the solar cells bottom layer to a connecting wire as direct current (DC) electricity. Some solar cells are made from polycrystalline silicon, which consists of several small silicon crystals. Polycrystalline silicon solar cells are cheaper to produce but somewhat less efficient than single-crystal silicon (Solar Electricity, 2004). A simple silicon solar cell can power a watch or calculator. However, it produces only a tiny amount of electricity. Connected together, solar cells form modules that can generate substantial amounts of power. Modules are the building blocks of solar electric systems, which can produce enough power for a house, a rural medical clinic, or an entire village. Large arrays of solar electric modules can power satellites or provide electricity for utilities. Solar Electric System Components (Solar Electricity, 2004). PV cells can be made from different semiconductor materials but the most commonly used in manufacturing is crystalline silicon. Crystalline silicon has gained popularity since it was the first material used in the earliest successful PV devices. Silicon has 14 electrons and its orbital arrangements allows up to four electrons to be given, shared or accepted. These outermost electrons, known as valence electron, play a vital part in photoelectric effect of solar cells. Solar cell technology benefited greatly from the high standard of silicon technology developed originally for transistors and later for integrated circuits. This applied also to the quality and availability of single crystal silicon of high perfection. In the first years, only Czochralski (Cz) grown single crystals were used for solar cells. This material still plays an important role. As the cost of silicon is a significant proportion of the cost of a solar cell, great efforts have been made to reduce these costs. One technology, which dates back to the 1970s, is block casting which avoids the costly puling process. Silicon is melted and poured into a square SiO/SiN coated graphite crucible. Controlled cooling produces a polycrystalline silicon block with a large crystal grain structure.

Baroque Mexican Music Concert Report Essays -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The concert I attended was a recital of Mexican baroque choral music. There were 5 main pieces played, each one having its own unique style and function. The recital was held at University of South Carolina School of Music recital hall room 201 on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 at 6:00pm. The group that sang was the graduate vocal ensemble and was conducted by Daniel S. Clark. The group of singers did an excellent job capturing the music and it was very hard to notice any major mistakes. The concert in a whole was a very soothing to me because when I went there I was very hyper and tense, but as the pieces were being played out, I became very relaxed and sleepy. This concert was a little different because in the beginning, the conductor went through a lecture of the Mexican baroque period. After he went through all of the material, they sang 5 songs and left. It was very interesting to learn about the music as it was heard and I think this is a very effective way to tea ch people about music and let them learn through personal interaction. Most of the songs were sang mostly by the higher pitched singers so it made us very sleepy. I had to wake up my friend who came with me because he was snoring!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first piece that was played was â€Å"Beatus Vir† with Brian Glosh as the cantor. A cantor is the person who leads a congregation in singing. At the end of the performance, the 2 cantors were given special recognition because of th...

Managing technological change

Managing technological change effectively in organizations, and even across entire industries, has always been a challenge for management, IT practitioners, and business development specialists. Technological change within companies and enterprises is not primarily a technology issue nor is it an area of interested limited to IT managers and specialists alone. Technological change should be a primary concern for business managers. The new generations of IT advancements can be applied to support advanced information management which in turns can enable business transformation within an organization.Managing automation-focused projects has become an outdated approach. Without a system on managing technological change effectively, the end results for organizations in applying new technologies usually result in unexpectedly high failure rates (BusinessWeek Online, 2006). A solution for business and IT managers is to make use of the Benefits Realization method. All organizations actually have a Benefits Realization process whether they are aware of it or not.For most companies, it is most likely not a formal process, and as such, the organization does not only know about it, but it also does not understand it. When an organization is not aware of the Benefits Realization in place, then it tends to be a passive process, not a managed one. What happens of course is that the process does not work very well. However, when the Benefits Realization process is designed and engineered systematically, it can actually lead to a tremendous improvement in the organization’s performance (BusinessWeek Online, 2006).In general, the Benefits Realization method provides for a new basis for using IT to deliver business results more consistently, predictably, and effectively. The approach makes use of two interconnected elements: mindsets on IT and on management methods. Taken these two fields together, Benefits Realization seeks to focus on integrating technology into an organ ization’s business system. It posits that the application of IT alone, regardless of how technically powerful, cannot deliver effective and successful business results without considering and combining IT with business methods (BusinessWeek Online, 2006).In other words, for an effective Benefits Realization process, the organization must seek to combine IT and management capabilities, and provide for a system that monitors the entire process from start to finish. F. Research Issue The ideal Benefits Realization design should start from the launch of the project, go beyond deliver, and actually measure the success and process improvement of the new design, process, software, or whatever technology was introduced to the organization.The problem is that not all companies have systems in place to really measure process improvement for Benefits Realization after completion of the project. This may happen when the organization is not aware that it has a Benefits Realization process in place to begin with, or when the organization’s Benefits Realization design simply does not have the tools to measure the end results of the process. G. Objectives of the Study The research study has the following objectives: ? To identify the reasons why the introduction of technology in benefits realization has often failed to bring about real change and benefits to the company.? To discuss how failure of most benefits realization programs are due to the lack of measurement tools in determining the benefits from its investments. ? To provide recommendations and solutions on how to establish effective benefits realization within an organization. H. Definition of Terms The following key terms, which will be used recurrently throughout the study, are defined as follows: ? Benefits realization – the discipline of ensuring that business initiatives deliver expected benefits (Aron, Tucker & Hunter, 2005).It is â€Å"an integrated set of processes, techniques, tools, d ocumentation standards and governance framework that cane be used to get the most value from technology investments† (Federal Aviation Administration, 1999, p. 1-2). ? Business benefit – a real source of value to the business, such as increased revenues, improved customer retention, lower costs, or quicker time-to-market (Aron, Tucker & Hunter, 2005). ? IT-intensive project/initiative – a business project with a significant IT component. It is increasingly common to consider all projects business projects.Projects involving significant IT activities and/or costs represent an opportunity for the Chief Operating Officer (CIO) and Information System (IS) organization to contribute strongly to benefits realization (Aron, Tucker & Hunter, 2005). I. Significance of the Study The study is significant since it will analyse the reasons why benefits realization programs fail in companies. It will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of benefits realization approaches used by companies. The recommendations that the study will provide can serve as useful tools for organization in setting up effective benefits realization programs.

Bose Marketing Structure

A History of Bose Bose Corporation was founded in 1964 by Dr. Amar G. Bose, then professor of electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As an MIT grad student in the 1950s, Dr. Bose decided to purchase a new stereo system. He was disappointed to find that speakers with impressive technical specifications failed to reproduce the realism of a live performance. The quest for better sound was on. Extensive research in the fields of speaker design and psychoacoustics—the human perception of sound—led to the groundbreaking 901 ® Direct/Reflecting ® speaker system in 1968.Its unprecedented approach to sound reproduction came much closer to the essence and emotional impact of live music, and won immediate acclaim. The list of major Bose innovations continues to grow. Fourteen years of research led to the development of acoustic waveguide speaker technology, found in our award-winning Wave ® radio, Wave ® music system and Acoustic Wave ® musi c systems. Acoustimass ® speaker technology reshaped conventional thinking about the relationship between speaker size and sound, enabling palm-sized speakers to produce audio quality previously thought impossible from speakers so small.Auditioner ® audio demonstrator technology removed the guesswork from sound system design for arenas and other large venues. It allows builders, architects and facility managers to hear precisely what a Bose ® system will sound like in their building, before any equipment is installed, even if the building only exists as a blueprint. Bose Lifestyle ® systems provided a welcome alternative to conventional component-based systems by offering fully integrated home entertainment solutions. Lifestyle ® systems deliver award-winning performance and elegance from elements specifically engineered to work together.The systems approach has paved the way for numerous Bose solutions, audio and beyond. Integrated systems account for the acclaimed perfor mance of Bose automotive sound systems and Acoustic Noise Cancelling ® headsets. The revolutionary Bose suspension system and ElectroForce ® linear motion system rely on proprietary Bose software and hardware working together in harmony. All feature technologies available only from Bose. Today, you can find Bose wherever quality sound is important. From the Olympic games to the Sistine Chapel. From NASA space shuttles to the Japan National Theatre.In the home and on the road, from large outdoor arenas to intimate neighborhood stores, restaurants and clubs, you can hear the realism of the most respected name in sound—Bose. | Organisational Structure of Bose Corporation – February 2nd, 2011 Bose Corporation (pronounced /? bo? z/) is a privately held organization, based in Framingham, Massachusetts, that specializes in audio equipment. [2] Founded in 1964 by Amar G. Bose, the company operates 5 plants, 151 retail stores (as of October 20, 2006) and an automotive subsi diary at Stow, Massachusetts. With respect to sales in the U. S. or home audio retail and portable audio retail sales, Bose was ranked third for the period of November 2008 to April 2009. [3] Bose is known for the 901 speaker series. CEO Amar Bose CFO Daniel Grady * Forming – during this stage of group development, the members get acquainted with each other. During this stage, the group establishes ground rules. * Storming – this stage is characterized by a high degree of conflict within the group. I consider the storming stage as the most crucial stage. In this stage, the group members and the leader have to resolve the issues that may affect the group in the future.If the group is unable to resolve the issues, it may be disbanded. If the issues are resolved the group will become cohesive. * Norming – during this stage, the group becomes more cohesive and identification as a member becomes greater. During this stage, the group members start to develop relations hips. * Performing – during this stage, questions about group relationships and leadership have been resolved and the group is ready to work. Each member devotes his/herself to getting the job done. * Adjourning – during this stage, the group will cease to exist. This is because it has met its goals and is no longer needed.Another interesting topic is group structure. Group structure refers to the characteristics of the stable social organization of the group, the way the group is ‘put together’. I learned that the way the group is structured affects its performance and ability to function. Through class discussions, I learned about the factors that affect group performance. * Size – the size of the group affects its ability to function. I learned that is best to maintain a small group with 10 members. In a small group, everyone feels needed and everyone is given responsibility. Nature of the task – the nature of the task affects the groupâ⠂¬â„¢s ability to function. The task should contain the right amount of challenge that will excite and push members to perform better. * Resources and support – adequate resources also affect group performance. * External recognition – rewards and recognitions are linked motivation.The members must feel that their work and efforts are valued. * Group composition – it is important to maintain a small group with diverse talents and skills. * N. B: Bose products are found in homes, theaters and large sports arenas. The U. S. ilitary and NASA have contracts with the company Bose Mission Statement The challenge of accurate music reproduction The ability to differentiate live music from all others is what makes its reproduction so challenging. The singular mission at the heart of Bose ® is to reproduce music as true to the original performance as possible. And that involves research, technology and a strong commitment to excellence. Bose Company Objectives Bose main tains an exceptionally strong commitment to research, for it is within the discipline of research that yesterday's fiction becomes tomorrow's reality.We strive to identify things which, when made better, improve people's lives. But it's more than just research. We aim for excellence in everything we do. From the way we run our business to our customer service. From the products to the owner's manuals you'll use to set them up. In everything we do, we truly believe that â€Å"good enough† is merely a starting point. We've taken our commitment and our passion for innovation and applied them to developing unique sound solutions to meet virtually any audio challenge in any application, even the space program.While many of our products are designed for entertainment and home audio solutions, you'll find Bose sound is prevalent in both the aviation and automotive industries, too. We've also designed professional sound systems for many applications, including stadiums and auditorium s, houses of worship, retail businesses, department stores and restaurants. Our commitment has served us well. Today, Bose has operations in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, Asia, the Caribbean, Central America and South America. The Bose ® Commitment to Customer SatisfactionAt Bose, an overriding goal is to create value for our customers by offering products and services that meet their needs. Our experienced sales and applications specialists strive to understand your specific testing needs, and then provide a solution for you. We put customers at the center of a dedicated focus on quality and service, and we measure success by the satisfaction of our customers. We are dedicated to bringing you products of superior quality and performance, and exceptional service so you can achieve your goals.

How Content Can Catch Fire With Amplification Process With Heidi Cohen

How Content Can Catch Fire With Amplification Process With Heidi Cohen Do you do whatever you can to get a prospect’s attention? Many marketers actually miss the mark when it comes to connecting their customers and content. Today, we’re talking to Heidi Cohen, chief content officer of Actionable Marketing Guide. She describes how you can build momentum to keep your content visible, consumable, and actionable. Also, Heidi shares a method to follow for your content’s amplification and distribution process. Difference between distribution and promotion of content Distribution Method: Ignite (up to first three days): Build a network and spark participants’ interest and willingness to engage with and share your content Fuel (first month): Plan, manage, and schedule social media marketing to keep content fresh and visible; utilize many mediums (i.e. video, audio) Spread (ongoing): Road test content to determine what works or doesn’t to attract new people; perform audit to update content and get conversions Less than 60% of digital traffic is human; build relationships and be creative to reach humans who will share your content Ways to create new or keep content going include visuals/images, guest posts, build authority, get people involved, take content live, and go to conferences Links: Heidi Cohen Subscribe to Heidi Cohen’s Newsletter Hootsuite Buffer Aaron Orendorff How To Avoid The Most Costly Mistake In Influencer Marketing With Shane Barker Andy Crestodina Steve Dotto The Secret 3 Steps For Content Amplification And Distribution Success 5 Basic Content Types Customers Need How We Increased the Readership of Buffer’s Blog to Over 1.5 Million Visits Yale Appliance Brian Dean The New York Public Library on Instagram How to Network at a Conference: 101 Tips From Marketing’s Best Content Marketing World Gini Dietrich Write a review on iTunes and send a screenshot of it to receive a care package! If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by Heidi Cohen: â€Å"You don’t want to have your promotions look like wallpaper meaning that no one sees them.† â€Å"Optimization is key because it’s not just that one shot in the dark.† â€Å"You’ve got to make sure that everything you create has‘connected content’.† â€Å"Keeping that content going is way cheaper than creating it again.† Im a big proponent of testing and tracking to get those incremental 10% improvements.

The Underworld Adventure of Aeneas in The Aeneid

The Underworld Adventure of Aeneas in The Aeneid Virgil imbues his Hades, as well as his Elysium, with a substantiated and understandable raison detre , and in the process corrects the notions of his predecessor [Homer in the Odyssey]. For Virgil, the Underworld must be categorized and organized as well as justified: thus the grouping of the souls of his Hades by reason or nature of punishment.Interaction and Reaction in Virgil and Homer Underworld Issues Here are some of the unanswered questions about the mythology of the Underworld that are left at the end of the nekuia (Underworld scene) of Book XI of the Odyssey, by Homer: Why was Elpenor upset that he hadnt been buried?Why was it said that Tiresias, of all mortals, was permitted to keep a clear head about mortal matters?Why were the shades of the eternally tortured, Sisyphus, Tityos, and Tantalus, near each other? The view of the Underworld presented in the nekuia is alien from modern views of death. Its hard to understand what went on when one adheres strictly to Judaeo-Christian visions of Hell. On this page and the next are some insights into the Homeric Underworld, based on references to Vergil. The Aeneid, by Vergil (or Virgil), was written many centuries after Homers Odyssey. Despite a few centuries, Vergil is chronologically closer to Homer than we are. Vergil is a good model also because he deliberately patterned his work on Homer and elaborated on it, and he lived in a milieu where Homers writing was still very much a part of the common culture since Homer was at the heart of the routine education of children. Therefore, Vergil tells us something about the Greco-Roman (pagan) Underworld that we should know to understand Homers nekuia. The striking similarities and close contrasts between the Underworlds of the two poets make it painfully obvious that Virgil was strongly affected by the ideas instilled in Homers text. How exactly he reacted to this burden, however, and how he attempted to justify his own work and separate it from that of Homer: these are the difficult yet ever-important questions. In re-creating Homers Hades, and in the process facing up to his predecessor, Virgil exhibits clearly his desire to re-work Homer, to complete and perfect the vision of the earlier poet.Interaction and Reaction in Virgil and Homer Reasons for Going to the Underworld HomerOdysseus goes to the Underworld for help getting home.VergilAeneas goes to pay a duty call on his dead father Anchises. Underworld Guidance HomerThe help Odysseus seeks comes from the prophet, Tiresias, in the Underworld and the sorceress, Circe, among the living.VergilAmong the living, Aeneas seeks the guidance of the Sibyl at Cumae, a priestess of Apollo who speaks inspired prophetic utterances. Among the dead, he seeks the counsel of his father. Warnings HomerCirce calms his fears and instructs Odysseus on how to travel.VergilThe Sibyl tells Aeneas how to proceed but warns him that while the trip to Hades is easy, the return voyage is limited to the select favorites of Jupiter. Aeneas must be divinely chosen if he is to return. This isnt all that terrifying a caveat, however, since he will know in advance whether he will be able to make the trip. In order to start the journey, the Sibyl says he must find a golden bough sacred to Proserpine. Should the gods not want him to proceed, he will fail to find it, but he does find it. In the guise of two doves, Venus, Aeneas mother, guides him. Unburied Dead Like Odysseus, Aeneas has a dead companion to bury, but unlike his predecessor, Aeneas must bury him before proceeding to the Underworld because the death has contaminated Aeneas fleet (totamque incestat funere classem). Aeneas does not initially know which of his companions has died. When he finds Misenus dead, he performs the necessary ceremonies. Misenus lay extended on the shore;Son of the God of Winds: none so renowndThe warrior trumpet in the field to sound;With breathing brass to kindle fierce alarms,And rouse to dare their fate in honorable arms.He servd great Hector, and was ever near,Not with his trumpet only, but his spear.But by Pelides arms when Hector fell,He chose Æneas; and he chose as well.Swoln with applause, and aiming still at more,He now provokes the sea gods from the shore;With envy Triton heard the martial sound,And the bold champion, for his challenge, drownd;Then cast his mangled carcass on the strand:The gazing crowd around the body stand.162-175 Slightly different from Odysseus, Aeneas has 2 men for whom he must provide funeral rites, but he doesnt find the second until the Sibyl has taken him to the shores of the River Styx, past the companions of Death: Famine, Pestilence, Old Age, Poverty, Fear, Sleep, and Disease (Curae, Morbi, Senectus, Metus, Fames, Egestas, Letum, Labos, and Sopor). There, on the shore, Aeneas finds his recently deceased helmsman, Palinurus, who cannot cross over until he is given a proper funeral rites. Proper burial is impossible since he was lost at sea.

Characteristics of The Regency Era Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Characteristics of The Regency Era - Essay Example In the novel, Anne Elliott who plays the leading role in the novel was displayed as an independent woman who believed and could differentiate between right and wrong. The Regency period was also a portrayal of the good faith and the Christian code of conducts. Women in the Regency period were also believed to be uptight and often refrained from showing their emotions.Based on the article, it could be said that the regency period although however, bad as it may seem also had a certain sense of ethics and good code of conduct among people which was easily displayed in their actions. The people respected the women, although this could be taken negatively their ways of living held high standards and code of conducts that we often tend to seek in the current era. The good manners were mostly portrayed among the female gender of the society who were always required to act in a formal manner no matter what whereas this was not expected as much from the male gender of the society.Joannou, Ma roula. Women's Writing, Englishness, And National And Cultural Identity. The Regency period as described in the novel Persuasion by Austen in 1818 shows a period of overindulgence and sexual misconducts. According to Austen, the Regency period existed from 1811 to 1820 which was when the Prince of Wales took over the throne as George IV, this era is popularly known as the period wherein recklessness and exorbitance were at their peak and this was all characterization of George IV himself.

You Decide Activity Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

You Decide Activity - Assignment Example This would be effectively done by increasing lending rates to commercial banks. This will in turn serve to reduce the money supply in the public. Once people have money, they can invest moderately and in addition create job opportunities. In addition, the governments should also sell treasury bills in order to decrease money supply in the economy. Another very effective monetary policy is use of the credit multiplier (Taylor, 2007). When the reserve ratio is increased, there will be less availability of money for credit hence the supply of money will be under control. Adjusting rates of interest is of great significance in controlling an increase in the gross domestic product of the economy. Inflation significantly devalues a country’s currency because goods will be highly priced. The problem of inflation can be avoided by stabilizing the dollar. Taxation is also an alternative approach to controlling inflation (Carbaugh, 2011). If the money supply is very high in the economy, taxation should be increased to control the supply of money in the market. Increased market operation is another that will control the supply of money hence assisting the country regain an economic balance (Taylor, 2007). At times controlled economic recessions are good as they cure the problem of inflation. One measure that would help completely deal with the current economic problem would be to stimulate the economy especially through lower tax rates. Producers will be motivated to produce more and as a result restore the economy. In addition, the government should try to increase its public expenditure without at first considering the budget deficit. Commercial banks should be motivated to create more funds for

Differential Reporting in Australia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Differential Reporting in Australia - Essay Example There have been arguments and commentaries on the applicability of the proposed changes to the reporting requirements in Australia. The AASB is of the view that the differential accounting standards are required to ensure adequate financial reporting for not-for-profit and government entities. This paper analyses the cases for and against this statement in the light of the proposed changes to the reporting requirements as envisaged by the AASB. The Public Sector Accounting Standards Board of the Australian Accounting Research Foundation has issued the Statement of Accounting Concept (SAC) 1defining the 'reporting entity' concept. Accordingly the reporting entity concept covers the 'legal entity' enunciated by the legislation in the private sector and also a broader concept to cover the accountability of the elected representatives and appointed officials employed in the public sector. (Australian Accounting Research Foundation) The concept of the reporting entity is based on the information needs of the users of the financial statements and the nature and extent of the general purpose of the financial reports. "The concept requires that individual reporting entities be identified by reference to the existence of users who are dependent on general purpose financial reports for information for making and evaluating resource allocation decisions." (Australian Accounting Research Foundation) Hence the reporting entity is not d ependent on the sector classification whether private or public or the manner or legality on the basis of which the entity is created. The concept is purely based on the objective behind the general purpose reporting and the concept requires all the entities (with users dependent on the general purpose financial reports for information) to prepare the general purpose financial reports for the information of the users of such reports. The present situation is that almost all not - for - profit companies are having the option to choose the status of being 'non-reporting entities'. If such companies opt for not to be reporting entities they need to prepare only 'special purpose accounts'. (Chartered Secretaries Australia) The objective of the proposed change is to revise the differential reporting regime, so that the financial reporting by both the for-profit and not-for profit organizations are made more meaningful for the users. 2.1 Rationale behind Removal of Reporting Entity Concept: The Invitation to Comment on the proposed change in the reporting regime details the rationale behind attempting to the remove the reporting entity concept. Nowhere in the world except Australia, the concept 'reporting entity' is being used for the purpose of determination of the accounting standards and the disclosure requirements. Australia is the only country which uses the concept of reporting entity for the determination of the differential reporting purposes also. Since the concept is not being the one which has an international usage and recognition the AASB proposed to remove this concept from the application to determine the accounting st

The Importance of Reading Books Essay Example for Free

The Importance of Reading Books Essay The joy of reading books cant be described in words. Its something that you can understand only by actual experience. There is much more to life than your work and spending time aimlessly with latest technology products. Reading books gives you that much needed break from the chaos in your life. It instills peace inside you, makes you relaxed and also exercises your brain in the process. When you read a book, it feels great to put yourself into a different world that the writer has created for you. Ask any avid reader about this and they too will agree that reading a book is same like watching a movie. When you spend hours and hours reading a book, creating a world with different characters in your mind, your imagination powers are sure to get a boost. Depending upon what you read, you will come out with the same experience as when you watch some really good movie. I have been a voracious reader ever since i learned how to read. Thats why i never get bored even being alone for a long time. I have found that reading books is the best medicine to kill boredom. What starts with reading story books, when you are a kid, turns into reading books for improving yourself as you grow older. From story books - technical management books - self improvement - spirituality and beyond, the journey is fantastic and you learn something with each passing day. You understand your thoughts and emotions more clearly. It makes you realize who you really are and makes your life more meaningful.Reading books will make you a better thinker and a better man. Thanks to technology you can easily find good articles to read on the internet. A great article can inspire and motivate you as much as a great book. Its not how much you read, but what you read which is more important. The only reason i recommend reading books over short articles is because when you spend hours with a thought or an idea then its more likely to stay with you for long time rather than when you spend just few minutes tinkering with it. Its easy to read a quote or an article for few minutes than discard it and continue with what you were doing. But when you invest your time in reading a good book, you end up spending at least a few hours reflecting on its contents as you read. Thus, its likely to stay with you for a longer time and have some positive influence on you. A good reader also varies his reading pace based on the content he is reading and what he wants to get from it. The purpose of reading news articles is different from reading stories, which is different from reading important documents. Over a period of time, you will understand how to vary your reading pace and comprehension based on what you read and what you want from it. Also, just reading good books is not enough. The way you read it is more important. When you come across a new idea or a different opinion, think upon it deeply. Dont accept it or reject it blindly. Try to reason with it and understand the writers point of view. Reflect upon the thoughts that come to your mind whenever you read a great book. You will know whether a book is great or not based on the thoughts it awakens inside you. As you continue this habit of reading and reflecting on what you read, you will start forming your own thoughts and values. It will challenge your mind and the thoughts, customs and traditions that you have grown up with. However, there is one thing which you should always remember when you make this a daily habit, as you are investing a part of your life doing it. Too much reading, without any thinking and action isnt of much use. When you know you are ready to do something its time to move to the next step. Act upon what you think is right and what you have decided to do. Its easy to get so much involved in the reading process, that you forget that the main purpose of reading is to make you a better person which can only happen when you act upon it. Just finishing one book after another without any real action from your side wont help you. What kind of person you want to be and what you would ultimately become depend greatly upon the type of content that you read and how much you act upon them. Reading articles that promote negativity, hatred and give wrong information is dangerous. Its better to not read anything at all than read such articles. Whether you read on some electronic device or prefer reading an actual book. Thats your personal choice. Personally, i prefer to read actual books whenever possible. I find that even after hours of reading my eyes feel fresh and full of energy. Thats something i dont find when i read too much on my computer. Before ending this article, i would like to summarize few important points and also suggest some Dos and Donts of reading: * Always read your content from a safe distance. Neither too close to your eyes neither too far away from your eyes. * Always prefer quality over quantity. Better to read one great book than hundred mediocre ones. * Understand properly what you have read and reflect upon it. * Dont accept anything blindly that you read but think for yourself and try to understand the reason behind whats been written. * Bookmark interesting pages for future reference. You never know when you will need them. * Sometimes it takes more than one reading to fully grasp some thing. Dont be disappointed if you dont understand a book in one reading. Maybe when you come back to it the next time, you will get it. * Focus completely on what you are reading. Dont think about other stuff while reading. * If possible, create a favorite spot in your house for reading books. You will feel more relaxed whenever you are there. * And above all, enjoy your reading experience. The habit of reading good content daily will act like an exercise for your mind and keep you mentally fit and flexible. If you have never given it a try then always remember that its never too late to start a good habit.

Differing Carbohydrate Recommendations of the Atkins Diet and Food Pyramid :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Differing Carbohydrate Recommendations of the Atkins Diet and Food Pyramid   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A review of the carbohydrate intake of the Atkins Diet and the Food Pyramid Guide allow a comparison of their potential health effects relative to each other.   The Atkins Diet and the Food Pyramid Guide propose different levels of carbohydrate intake. The Atkins Diet allows for an extremely limited intake of carbohydrates, as little as one serving which is roughly 20 grams. The Food Pyramid Guide allows about 120-220 grams of carbohydrates a day, which are roughly six to eleven servings. These different levels of carbohydrate intake influence the body’s metabolism because â€Å"carbohydrates are an organic compound that serves as a major energy source for the body† (Dictionary.com). These carbohydrates convert to sugars that trigger insulin production, which our body needs for certain processes, and triggers fat storage (Health-Doc.com). According to the Institute of Medicine, adults should get 45 to 65 percent of their daily calories from carbohydrates. This is roughly seven servings based on a 2000 calorie/day diet.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Atkins Diet, in requiring a significantly smaller amount of carbohydrates than the Institute of Medicine, attempts to realign the dieter’s metabolism.   In the first two weeks of the diet no more than twenty grams of carbohydrates a day are to be eaten. Twenty grams of carbohydrates a day is the equivalent of one slice of bread. After this two-week induction period is over the diet is allowed to slowly increase its carbohydrate increments to about fifty grams of carbohydrates a day, or about two to three servings. The benefit of this low consumption of carbohydrates with the Atkins diet is to â€Å"efficiently switch your body from a carbohydrate-burning metabolism to a primarily fat-burning (your fat!) metabolism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  [The Atkins Diet is also supposed to] stabilize your blood sugar and abruptly halt a myriad of symptoms indicative of unstable blood sugar, such as fatigue, mood swings, brain fog and an inability to function at your best. This diet also will curb your cravings by stabilizing your blood sugar and break addictions to foods such as sugar, wheat or corn derivatives, alcohol, caffeine, grain or any other food† (Atkins.com). While these claims seem somewhat sweeping, they remain claims that are not supported by scientific information provided by their website, Atkins.com. The lack of supporting information and the grandiose nature of the claims make the science behind this diet seem somewhat suspect.

When people become very angry, they are said to be operating from their `dinosaur brain`

It has been said that the thing that sets human beings apart from all the other creatures in the animal kingdom is the fact that human beings have the ability for discernment and for logical thinking. In times were animals would be ruled by impulse and instinct, human beings are able to control these urges to a certain extent. As beings capable of suppressing baser instincts and impulses, human beings are expected to be above such primal instincts.It is for this reason that people who are very angry or emotional and give in to such baser instincts are said to be operating from their â€Å"dinosaur brains. † It is not to say of course that operating from one’s dinosaur brain means that one is also capacitated with the same intellectual capacity as that of those prehistoric animals. Dinosaurs were creatures that had smaller brains than today’s creatures and as such their thinking had not evolved to the same extent.This means that these animals only followed the bas ic instincts such as eating, mating and sleeping, offshoots of which are aggression in certain cases in order to preserve and protect. Therefore, any person who is operating from their dinosaur brain is simply exercising the functions that dinosaurs used to use in the underdeveloped brains. Feelings such as anger and hunger become the ruling considerations and logic is never part of the equation.

How War Affects the Economy Essay

Countries that have experienced periods of war have had their economies mostly affected negatively. Considering war and the economic history, it is evidence that war has influenced the economic history across the world for centuries. This influence is both negative and positive. In most cases, those who win during wars have ended up getting their economic institutions and trade patterns in shape. Wars have also led to technological development, increased workforce among others (Goldstein, par. 1). However, the negative impacts of war outweigh the positive impact in terms of waste of money and resources on war, destruction of human capital, trade, resources available and labor management. Wars have also led to loss of many lives thus reducing the population which greatly contributes to economic growth at large (Goldstein, par. 1 – 2). Where possible, wars should be avoided by all means, no matter how appealing the positive impacts might seem to be, since in return they are expensive, destructive and disruptive thus greatly affecting the economies of many nations negatively. The negative impacts of war During wars, the economies of the third world countries are the ones which often get affected to a larger extent. Winning in war is determined by how powerful a nation is. More powerful and stronger nations are better placed and able to represent their interests than others. For example, The United States of America being the super power wields incredible power and influence. Before any country engages itself into war, it should consider its strength and influence and also who they are fighting with (Wade par 1-2). Some of the negative impacts of war include the following; War Causes Increased Inflation Rate According to Goldstein (par 4), waging war requires three things; ‘money, money and money’. In short, waging war requires a lot of money and therefore many nations have ended up printing a lot of currencies to finance war forgetting that the printing of more money fuels inflation. Inflation always acts as an indirect tax on a national economy. For instance, during the first and second world wars, there was the industrial warfare that in return created inflationary pressures across large economies. The governments mobilized very many societies for war which led to conscripting labor, building up prices in markets for natural resources and industrial goods, diverting of capital and technology from civilian to military applications among others (Goldstein, par. 4), During the World War I, there were numerous inflations as participants broke from the gold standard to issuing of currencies freely. This led to increased inflation, a thing that was experienced even during the US Civil War, First and Second World Wars, Vietnam War among others. War induces inflation which is strongest in war zones but also to neutral countries, causing disruption and scarcity of resources, for example the US during the World War II. In addition, as war continues in the present day, inflation continues to increase driving the currency to worthlessness. The cost of war during World War I was almost $ 40 billion in addition to 85 years of inflation. This expenditure in figures would be closer to $1100 billion in the modern terms (Goldstein, par 2-5). War Leads To Increased Government Debts  Some nations borrow money for war and what happens is that they end up in a lot of debts for the government. War related debts always drive many states to bankruptcy. An example of such a nation is Spain in 1557 & 1596 when there was war (Goldstein, par. 5). Capital Depletion Many wars create zones of intense capital as well as destruction. This destruction happens in farms, factories and cities and cause reduced economic output which in return causes famine and plagues, for example during the 30years’ war that happened between 1618 and 1648. During this time, one third of the population was killed in Germany as the mercenaries plundered civilians with the latter becoming mercenaries so as to try to survive. In addition, the First World War reduced production by nearly half and starved hundreds of thousands of Germans to death. These led to more than a decade of lower Soviet output. Also, during World War I in 1918, influenza epidemic killed millions of people thus reducing the work force (Goldstein 2003, par8-9). Some other 407,000 Americans lost their lives during the Second World War and this led to decrease in human cost or labor which would have otherwise contributed to the economic growth of America (Henderson, par. 7). In Germany, there was a massive loss of lives which amounted to 1. 7 million young men and 4. 3 millions of them being wounded during the First World War. The total casualties were thus adding up to 7 million though this also included some prisoners and also those listed as missing. The Germany economy suffered terribly during this war and its industrial output fell by over 40% between 1914 and 1918. This was because many of the working men had been killed in war and so the machinery was run by ill trained people at the end of the war. In addition, the workforce was not physically fit to work very hard as a result of the food shortage that was being experienced in Germany then. Estimates show that 35% of all trade was usually organized illegally on the black market and the economy suffered from shortages of raw materials (School of History, par 2). War Impact On Domestic Economy Wars bring about impact on the domestic economy too. This happens through reduction of the level of capital stock as well as its growth. There is usually capital flight which dramatically leads to reduced private investments. In addition, the political economy models show worsened government’s fiscal balance which results from the internal conflicts that ends up affecting the aggregate domestic economy (Imai and Weinstein, par. 1). Economically, many activities are enhanced into conduct of war through the act of the government shifting the expenditure from output to war. Politically, there is evidence of weaker incentives which help maintain the fiscal balance. This is attributed to a shorter time horizon and weaker accountability of an electoral constituency. The result of all these shows that the driving forces can be attributed to the negative effects of civic war on the economic growth which is a decrease in domestic investment and especially the private investments (Imai and Weinstein, par. 1). War Is Expensive A lot of resources are normally used to wage war and this definitely leads to a minus in the economic growth of any nation. When a government spends a minimum of 2% of its GDP on its military on average, its economy is affected as well. Therefore, no matter where the finances or resources for funding comes from (payment of taxes or debts) , the resources used in war should be used to do other constructive things in order to raise the economic growth such as, paying more wages to workers to motivate them, construction of roads, large scale farming among others. Most governments ends up using a pool of finances to buy tanks, trucks, fuel, clothing, parachutes, bullets, guns, airplanes among other equipments of war. They also hire laborers to do the job that is, hiring more military personnel which is still expensive (Henderson, par. 3-4). All the capital and labor used to do the above produces output and labor that would otherwise have been used to develop the country’s economy. The cost of all that is used in war is called opportunity cost which means the value of the highest valued opportunity foregone. Thus, the opportunity cost of the resources used in war is the value of the resources that would otherwise have been used by the government on other things other than war (Henderson, par3-4). For example, during the Second World War, the US government spent more than 7% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product), on war. In addition, there was a peak of the United States government spending a large portion of its (GNP) Gross National Product on war in 1944. This government spent about 38% of the GNP on war while as much of the capital and labor used in this war would have been used to produce things like automobiles for domestic economy or even exports among other things. In short, there would have been no rationing of meat, tires, nylons eggs, butter and sugar and the standard measure of prosperity would have been much more prosperous (Henderson 2006, par 4). On the other side, the cost of war in Germany during World War I was estimated to be US$ 40 billion; this was a lot of finances all being put to war (School of History, 2004, par4 ). Also, during World War 1and World War II, consumer spending is said to have increased a lot though it was still less than the long-term growth rate. The increase in output that was experienced during World War II considerably reflected the massive rise in military spending. At the climax of this war, the US government spending had taken up over 40% of the GNP whereas the Korean War spending was more moderate with the government spending a maximum of about 20% of the GNP (Ohanian 13). Another example showing the costliness of war is the Iraq war. According to some approximations made, Iraq and some other Middle East countries are assumed to spend significantly on defense. This is represented by an increase in defense spending by OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) which is a clear indication that the economic growth of these countries is affected (McKibbin and Stoeckel 2). The Iraq war is possibly costly to the economy of the world. However the costliness is dependent on how long the war lasts and also the compounding effect of many different factors. The main economic effects include higher budgetary cost, rising oil prices and the greater uncertainty of things, leading to negative effects on economic growth. For example, the United States can experience a knock-on effect if Japan is unfavorably affected by war with Iraq. In such a case, the rise in oil prices is likely to change the prices of other energy sources like coal and natural gas (McKibbin & Stoeckel 1). In addition, when the prices of oil rise, Japan experiences high risk in terms of economic effects than either Europe or United States since it depends mainly on imported oil. Australia is also not left out since it is also affected negatively when the oil prices rise despite the fact that it exports coal and gas in large amounts. The longer the period a war takes, the more there is prolonged and uncertainty of the cost of oil (McKibbin and Stoeckel, 5). The war in Afghanistan also led to estimated loss of US $ 2-3 billions to the economy of Pakistan in 2001. This caused effects such as loss in revenue, decreased exports, reduced foreign investment as well as a slow down in private investments (Nisar, par. 18). War Leads To Increased Tax Rate The tax rate is usually increased in many nations during war so as to be able to finance the whole process of war. For example, there was increased tax during the Korean War so as to help finance the war. The capital tax rose to nearly 63% in average, the highest tax rate of capital income that has ever been heard in the history of the United States and it was sufficient to finance the Korean War efforts. Moreover, during the Second World War, the labor tax rose to about 19% with the capital tax rates ranging to an average of 60% compared to the time prior to the war, whereby the average marginal tax rate on capital was about 45% and the average marginal labor tax rate was just 9%. This high tax rate generated significant revenues and at the same time, the revenue was not enough to finance the war spending (Ohanian 13). All the above listed effects show how destructive and expensive war is to the economy of any nation. The Positive Effects Of War On The Economy The positive effects of war are not as many as the negative effects and no matter how attractive they might be the negative consequences still stand conspicuously. Some of the positive effects include the following; War Leads To Development Of Infrastructures And Technology Sometimes war creates a chance for infrastructural development like roads and thus clearing away the outdated ones. This gives way to the rebuilding of the economy world wide thus leading to long-term benefits. Technological development also rises as a result of war though not always. For example, after the two world wars, French production is said to have grown faster after 1950 than before 1914. Also the layouts of European railroad networks were strappingly influenced by the strategic military consideration. This was evident after Germany used railroads effectively to conquer French forces especially in 1870 to 1871(Goldstein, par 12-13). According to Tassava (par. 1-32) there has always been scientific and technological innovations that comes as result of war. These innovations were the key aspects in the American war effort as well as important economic factor in the Allies’ victory. During war, there is usually development of weapons among other tools of war. The American experience after the Second World War was impressive because of the scientific and technological change which positively affected almost every aspect of the war economy. There was also the Manhattan project which was meant to creating atomic weapons. However, this project was often hidden from the public view because of the wartime secrecy. The U. S. army and several private contractors gave direction to scientists, engineers and workers to build a nationwide complex of laboratories and also plants that would manufacture atomic fuel. They also gave direction to fabricate the atomic weapons. For example the laboratories at Chicago and California-Berkeley universities, the uranium processing complexes at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Hanford, Washington among others (Tassava, par. 32). Another innovation that arose during war time is the building of ships. This was the third example of innovation’s importance to the war economy. The fighting fronts in Africa, Europe and Asia that had their plans allied in World War II were totally dependent on the movement of war material produced in the United States. Hundred merchant shipyards in the U. S produced 5,777 ships at a cost of about $13 billion between 1939 and 1945. The technology of building ship later became a low-technology compared to the atomic-bomb project and the aerospace industry a sector that was amazingly successful (Tassava, par. 35).

The Civil Rights Movements of the 60s essays

The Civil Rights Movements of the 60s essays On May 4th, 1970, four students were killed, eight injured, when shots fired out everywhere across the Kent State University Campus (www.may4.org) . This tragedy both symbolically, and chronologically marked the end of a turbulent decade the decade of discontent as some people called it (Gottlieb, 17). This incident was the result of a peace protest against President Richard Nixon, and was just one example of the many political, cultural, and spiritual revolutions that erupted from this decade. The Civil Rights Movement, the Anti-War Movement, and the Womens Rights Movement were three of the largest and most revolutionary ideas which sprung from a generation of counter-culturists. Each Movement contributed to the future American culture in varying degrees. Each had their heroes, their enemies, and their own morale. These movements were the frameworks for a young generation to build upon, who were looking to find a new way of life, and seeing the world. The assassination of President Kennedy on November 22nd, 1963 seems to be the turning point for a generation of teenagers. This was the event after which America began to change. (Gottlieb, 18). People felt that something had been taken away from them, and there was nothing to fill the void that was left. This is when the restlessness and upheaval of a culture began. There had already been instigation, during Kennedys term, of the most lasting and continual movement that has ever come out of the United States. Led by a strong, and devoted citizen, Martin Luther King Jr. The Civil Rights movement had already begun. The fight for equal rights among blacks and whites had already started to change the way America was thinking. It was affecting the way Congress, and politics in general were running. The predictability of votes, and discipline of Congress was beginning to become weak. As House Majority Leader Carl Albert ...

ACT Scores are So Important for Military Students

Why SAT/ACT Scores are So Important for Military Students SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you applying to a military academy like West Point, Naval Academy, or Air Force Academy? While military academy applications are relatively complex (what with having to get nominated by a Congressperson), their requirements for SAT/ACT scores are straightforward. Your challenge is to achieve the SAT/ACT scores you need to stand out among the fierce competition. This article reviews the SAT/ACT requirements for future cadets and how you can gainthe scores you need to attend a training academy in the "Five-Pointed Star." First, let's quickly go over your options. What Are the U.S. Military Academies? There are five military training academies in the U.S., known together as the Five-Pointed Star. If you gain acceptance, then your tuition is free (with the exception of some minimal fees of around $1,000 for the Merchant Marine Academy). Following graduation, cadets will complete 5 years of active duty service. U.S. Military Academy, or West Point is in West Point, New York. Cadets graduate from this 4-year academy to become second lieutenants in the Army. U.S. Naval Academy, or USNA, Annapolis, or Navy is in Annapolis, Maryland. Graduates are commissioned as ensigns in the Navy or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps. U.S. Air Force Academy has a baseoutside Colorado Springs, Colorado. Students go on to become commissioned second lieutenants in the Air Force. U.S. Coast Guard Academy is located in New London, Connecticut. Students gain a Bachelor of Science degree and become commissioned ensigns aboard cutters and at sector offices in ports. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is in Kings Point, New York. Students are called "midshipmen" and are trained in marine engineering, maritime law, and other areas in the realm of sea transport. In order to apply to one of these academies, you must be at least 17 and no older than 23. Admissions are very competitive, sohow important are SAT/ACT scores for getting accepted? How Important Are SAT/ACT Scores? As mentioned above, the military academies are very selective.Most applicants are in the top 25% of their high school class, and SAT/ACT scores are required for all of these schools. Both your grades and SAT/ACT scores are very important to admissions officers to demonstrate your academic readiness and commitment. Either exam is accepted, though students who choose the ACT should take the ACT with Writing. Most of the academies don't emphasize the Writing multiple choice section on the SAT as much as they do the Critical Reading and Math.While this means you can focus your prep on Reading and Math, you should still take the Writing seriously and avoid having a low outlier score in this section. If you're taking the new SAT in 2016 or after, then this point isn't relevant - the Critical Reading and Writing sections will be scored together on a scale of 200 to 800. Other requirements include an official nomination from a U.S. Congressperson, physical fitness assessments, and, as described bythe official White House website, a demonstration of "dedication, desire to serve others, ability to accept discipline, sense of duty, and morality, and the enjoyment of challenge." Thus your grades, along with your recommendations and high school activities, are important for telling your story and demonstrating that you possess these essential qualities. Every aspect of your application takes time and effort to address well, and your SAT/ACT scores are no different. To achieve the scores you need, you should start early, put in significant preparation, and plan to take the test more than once. Since score reports take about 3 weeks to reach schools, you want to make sure you're aware of your deadlines and leave yourself enough opportunities to take the SAT/ACT several times. Before reviewing the scores you need for each academy, what are their application deadlines? Hang in there - you got this. Deadlines for Military Academies Most deadlines are in January, February, or March of senior year, but that doesn't mean you should wait until senior year to take the SAT/ACT. Typically, students take their first SAT/ACT in the fall of junior year, then again in the spring, and finally in the fall of senior year. If you're applying to a military academy, you have probably started planning and gathering your application materials earlier than many other students. Usually theacademies want you to fill out a preliminary application in junior year. If you have a sense of your plans and goals, then you can push this SAT/ACT schedule back and start preparing even earlier. Before delving into planning your test prep and schedule, these are the deadlines for each academy for the 2014-15 application cycle (and similar deadlines will likely apply for future years). Application Deadline West Point 2/28/2015 Navy 1/31/2015 Air Force 12/31/2014 Coast Guard 3/1/2015 Merchant Marine Academy 2/1/2015 Based on these deadlines, you want to have your SAT/ACT scores completed by November or Decemberof senior year, if not earlier. What scores will make you a competitive candidate? What SAT/ACT Scores Do You Need? At the very minimum, you need at least a 500 Verbal and 500 math on the SAT. In terms of the ACT, you need at least a 21 English, 19 Reading, 24 Math, and 24 Science. The average scores for all the academies fall between 540 and 620 for SAT Verbal and 630 and 710 for SAT Math. The following chart breaks down the average scores of the incoming class of 2015 for each academy. The Naval Academy has a slightly higher bar for test scores, and expectations for math are higher than for verbal across the board. SAT Verbal SAT Math ACT English ACT Reading ACT Math ACT Science West Point 627 646 29 30 29 28 Navy 600-650 630-680 25-32 26-32 Air Force 633 663 30 30 30 30 Coast Guard 620 650 * Merchant Marine Academy 632 652 * *Data not reported, but average composite ACT score for Coast Guard and Merchant Marine Academy is 28. These are strong scores, and you may be aiming for higher than average to really strengthen your application. So how can you best prepare yourself to achieve your target scores? SAT/ACT prep is a different kind of target practice. How Can You Reach Your Target Scores? Once you have a sense of what scores you need for your school of interest, what can you do to ensure you achieve them? Preparation is key for doing well, but you want tomake sure you're studying efficiently and not wasting time with ineffective study habits or low quality practice questions. Read on for some tips for how to make the most out of your test prep and where to find the best resources for SAT/ACT strategies and practice questions. First,hopefully you have a good amount oftime before your application deadlines, because starting early will give you the time you need to prepare and take your test more than once. Start Early The process of applying to military school starts even earlier than most college applications, as you should fill out a preliminary application in junior year, along with communicating with a Congressperson to obtain his/her official recommendation. Since most students planning on a military academy are aware of this goal relatively early in high school, they should start to think about worktowards this goal by prepping for and taking the SAT/ACT early. Sophomore year is a good time to take your first test, or if you feel that 3 opportunities to test is sufficient, then you might take your first offical SAT/ACT in the fall of junior year. If you start studying for the SAT/ACT by sophomore year, then you can identify your strengths and weaknesses and fill in any gaps in knowledge. After taking a diagnostic practice test, you can do some boot camp-style studying and train yourself to conquer the SAT/ACT. Like any good training session, you should approach it with a plan. Prep With a Plan Start out with basic training. Get to know how long each section of your test is, how many questions you'll answer, and what exactly you need to bring to test day. Read about what's actually tested on the CriticalReading, Writing, and Math sections of the SAT and the Reading, English, Math, and Science sections of the ACT. Once you've gotten to know the structure and content of the test, try taking a diagnostic practice test to see how you are scoring now. This is just a baseline score. With practice and training, you will be able to improve your scores in all sections. After getting your score, go back and examine which practice questions were easy and which tripped you up. Analyze your mistakes and thoroughly read the explanations. If you're having trouble answering all the questions in time, continue to train yourself with timed practice tests. Review and try out time-saving strategies, like how to read the Critical Reading passages on the SAT and Reading passages on the ACT. Break down your test prep into small manageable goals. One week, focus on probability and word problems. The next, drill your understanding of commonly tested grammar rules. Breaking down your studying into small, manageable goals over time will help you learn, accumulate knowledge and skills, and gradually build up your scores. Below is an estimate of how many hours you should put in to see real improvement. Start with basic training. Then get more specialized. Put In the Time Whilethe amount ofstudy input and score improvement output differs for each student, the following is a rough estimate for how many hours you need to study to bring your scores up. SAT Composite Point Improvement 0-50 points - 10 hours 50-100points- 20 hours 100-200 points - 40 hours 200-300 points - 80 hours 300-500 points - 150 hours+ ACTComposite Point Improvement 0-1 points - 10 hours 1-2points- 20 hours 2-4 points - 40 hours 4-6points - 80 hours 6-9points - 150 hours+ The best way to put in the hours to really see improvement is to write down a schedule and stick to it. If you can set aside a specific time for test prep every week and make it part of your routine, then the hours and effort you put in will really add up over time. Just as you want to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses and root out your errors, you also will see the most effective results if you use high quality test prep resources. Use High Quality Resources The truest representation of the SAT/ACT comes from official practice questions. You can download official practice tests, as well as find practice questions on the College Board and ACT websites. Since these are actual questions written by the testmakers, many from previously administered test, they are the best samples of what you will encounter on test day. Unfortunately, there aren't a huge amount of resources out there to practice for the redesigned SAT. Your best bet so far is to make an account with Khan Academy and find the practice questions they are offering in conjunction with College Board. You can also familiarize yourself with the changes and try to focus specifically on those skills when prepping with older practice materials. Apart from official questions, you can use online test prep programs (like PrepScholar), various books, and SAT or ACT Question of the Day. Along with studying, you want to familiarize yourself with and practice the best strategies for enhancing your understanding, saving time, and writing a strong essay in only 25 minutes on the SAT or 40 minutes on the ACT. Invest in yourself and reap the benefits when you get into your military academy of choice. I've mentioned a few times that you should plan to take the SAT/ACT more than once. Here's why. Take the SAT/ACT More Than Once Just as you want to take control of your test preparation, you also want to have a strategy for tackling your testing schedule. The typical schedule is to take the SAT or ACT in the fall of junior year and then again in the spring of senior year. Then if you still see room for improvement, you have all summer to prep and take it again in the fall of senior year. Students almost always improve their scores when they retake the SAT/ACT, and you can use the time in between tests to focus on your weak spots. If you want even more opportunities to test - in case of a fluke testing day or issue with your score report - you could push this schedule back. This will shield you from any issues that may arise, as well as take off some of the pressure since you won't feel like youcould runout of time. You can use those qualities of determination and discipline desired by the military academies to hit your target scores. If you're aiming to attend a military academy, then you must be someone who welcomes challenge. Use those same standards of rigor and motivation you hold yourself to to prep for the SAT/ACT. Not only will you further gain mastery of yourself through discipline and hard work, you'll achieve your purpose of gaining the scores you need for admissioninto one of the competitive military academies of the Five-Pointed Star. What's Next? How many times should you take the SAT/ACT?Getadvice about registeringand choosing your test dates, specific to the SAT and ACT. Are you a sophomore or junior designing your study plan? Read the full guide to your study plan here. Are you aiming for perfection on the SAT or ACT, or just curious how people achieve this feat? Read how this full scorer approached the tests to score a perfect 2400 on the SAT and full 36 on the ACT. Want to improve your SAT score by 240 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: