Thursday, August 27, 2020

Common Dorm Costs for College Students

Regular Dorm Costs for College Students Living in the home lobbies during your time in school regularly implies you can keep away from the problem of paying rent each month, manage a landowner, and financial plan for utilities. There are still, nonetheless, heaps of costs that accompany living in the residences. Remember that, as an understudy living in nearby lodging, there are in reality a ton of costs you have command over. Without a doubt, you might be required to buy a feast plan, however you can buy the littlest one potential and save a few snacks in your space for when youre hungry. Also, in the event that you deal with your room during the year, you wont deal with surprising indictments for cleaning or harm fixes when you look at. In conclusion, taking great consideration of yourself - e.g., discovering time to work out, getting enough rest, and eating admirably - can help kill sudden expenses on things like physical checkups or prescriptions. The following is an example financial plan for an understudy living nearby during their time in school. Your expenses might be higher or lower contingent upon where you live, your own decisions, and your way of life. Consider the financial plan underneath an example that you can modify varying for your own individual circumstance. Furthermore, some details in this example financial plan can be included or deducted varying. (Your phone bill, for instance, might be a lot bigger - or littler - than recorded here, contingent upon your requirements just as your financial plan.) And a few things, similar to transportation, might be limitlessly extraordinary relying upon how you get to grounds just as the distance away from home your school is. The pleasant thing about spending plans, regardless of whether youre living in a habitation corridor, is that they can be revised until they fit your own interesting needs. So if something isnt very working out, take a stab at moving things around until the numbers include in support of yourself. Regular Dorm Costs for College Students Food (snacks in room, pizza conveyance) $40/month Garments $20/month Individual things (cleanser, razors, antiperspirant, make-up, clothing cleanser) $15/month Wireless $80/month Diversion (going to clubs, seeing motion pictures) $20/month Books $800-$1000/semester School supplies (paper for printer, hop drive, pens, printer cartridges) $65/semester Transportation (bicycle lock, transport pass, gas on the off chance that you have a vehicle) $250/semester Travel (trips home during breaks and occasions) $400/semester Solutions, over-the-counter meds, emergency treatment unit $125/semester Different (PC fix, new bicycle tires) $150/semester

Friday, August 21, 2020

Tips on How to Write a Perfect Essay

Tips on How to Write a Perfect EssayWriting a great essay requires knowledge and understanding on how to write a perfect essay. It also requires the desire to make a better write a better essay every time you write an essay. The topics that you tackle when writing the essays, you need to be aware of and know how to address them with your writing.Writing is never that easy. It requires skill, knowledge and insight to be able to deliver the writing that needs to be delivered. This ability to deliver what needs to be delivered is referred to as the ability to deliver a perfect essay.Essay writing is not something that a person can easily do. If you are a newbie on writing an essay, you may want to begin by reading on the topic first. It may be wise to get some professional guidance from others to avoid any possible pitfalls that may result to your bad essays.You can also refer to more people and peers to help you learn on how to write a perfect essay. One of the best ways to get educate d on this aspect is to do some research on the subject matter you are going to write about. You can also search on the internet to have reference and references that will help you learn how to write a perfect essay. You can also take a look at some essays written by other people on the subject that you can get references from.Essay writing is really not as simple as just compiling a few ideas. It involves intricate research that includes important details. Some of the essential components that should be included in your essay include the subject, the title, the thesis statement, the topic analysis, conclusion, and the introduction. When you add these three elements together you would end up with a well-written, concise, useful and interesting essay.At this point you must also note that there are specific details that you need to pay attention to when composing your essay. This includes that if you would like to write a well-crafted essay, you must focus on the main idea of the essay before proceeding. If you fail to pay attention to the main idea of the essay, you may lose track of the main idea of the essay which would lead to you losing the benefits of having the thesis statement prepared. For those who wish to write an essay on the theme of politics, it is recommended that you pay attention to the basics such as why the idea of politics came to be.A successful essay is written with good and clear writing skills. You must write with precision, as this is the foundation for the entire essay. First, you must be able to clearly specify and state the main idea of the essay. Once you have clearly stated the main idea, you can then use the outline technique to help you write the thesis statement.Getting into the basics and putting the right approaches to writing a perfect essay will make the difference between how many good essays get written out there and how many bad ones get written out there. When you start off your journey to learn how to write a perfect essa y, you will learn that it is not that difficult to write.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Free Will. In This Paper I Will Do An Introduction To And

Free Will In this paper I will do an introduction to and explain to everyone an important question that I’d like to ask the people and help answer for all of you. I really do hope that all of you agree with me on my points that I come across or at least understand where I’m coming from with my argument that I am trying to put out in the open. So what I will be mainly focusing on primarily is as a viewpoint in philosophy, we will see how a person like myself can exist with the ability to have free will in their hands. Actually to be even more precise on the topic and not make it so broad for everyone I would like for all of us to contemplate over a more precise issue on the matter and that issue that I will explain to you about is on†¦show more content†¦So what free will means is on a philosophical level is that it is the ability for a persons to choose, think, and act voluntarily. What that means is that free will gives the human being the potential to decide on anything. They can also be under the impression of anything as well. For some the big contributor to free will is that you can take action of one s own free will so you can basically do anything freely in a sense. That’s the main thing I’m trying to get at in regards to free will. In the views of many philosophers, for them to believe in the concept of free will they have to believe in that every human being can be the kind of author that they want to be. So they are the author of all of their own reactions or actions that they do and have to have the thinking of rejecting the idea that all human actions are then in a sense determined by the external conditions or fate. This is where determinism comes along. What determinism means based on a philosophical level is that it is just like a philosophical kind of idea that is in every event or state of affairs. This is included in every type of human decision and action and even the inevitable and the most necessary consequence of the antecedent states of affairs. What this means is basically that Determinism is the theoretical theory that everything that happens which also incorporates everything that the person likeShow MoreRelatedPersonal Note On Writing And Writing889 Words   |  4 PagesI would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for all the efforts that you have invested in helping me improve my writing. The efforts that you invested in me did not go in vain. In this course, I have become insightful in regard to the process of writing as whole. Who knew that writing can be challenging yet rewarding simultaneously? Through many challenges that I have encountered in this class, and many exercises comprised in t he course, I have come to clearly realize differentRead MoreWhat Would It Entail?1221 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction: Imagine a world without moral responsibility. What would it entail? Without moral responsibility, legal systems today would necessarily undergo a dramatic revision. I have not a clue what they might result to. With constituents not being morally responsible for their actions, criminal acts become easily defensible. For the subject, he/she was not â€Å"free† at the time of the act, for one can only be morally responsible for an act if one was free and consciously willed the act ( ).Read MoreHow I Learned From College Writing II Than I Thought1013 Words   |  5 Pages I have definitely learned a lot more from College Writing II than I thought I would have. When this class started, I was not excited, because I have never liked writing, and felt that I was not very good at it. Now it’s coming to an end and fast.  I always enjoyed coming to class because it went by quickly and was never dull. It started with free writes to help with our fluency, to class discussions, peer editing, and having Dr. White revise our essays. All these of h ave helped me with the writingRead MoreMy First And Second Quarters Of Dual Enrollment English At Brooke Point High School Essay949 Words   |  4 Pages Over the first and second quarters of Dual Enrollment English at Brooke Point High School, I have grown immensely as a writer. I learned a great deal about how to write a paper, as well as, about myself. In the beginning of this course, I felt as if my assignments were going to overwhelm me; I also felt apathetic about completing them. This led me to create my own personal agenda as to how I would complete my assignments. My plan was to overcome my weaknesses and enhance my strengths withinRead MoreBanking700 Words   |  3 PagesTerm Paper Each student is expected to write a term paper on a topic relevant to the course, but of your choosing. Each of you should chose a topic and submit the idea by October 5th for my approval. In your proposal, you should describe to me what you plan to write about and why. You must (and this is important) provide a brief selection of material/scholarly articles that you plan to rely on for your paper. After your topic has been approved, you are free to begin development of the paper inRead MoreInterview With My Classmate Emma Essay864 Words   |  4 PagesI conducted an interview with my classmate Emma, in English 101. I asked her about her passion on writing, her experiences, her attitude towards writing etc. Our conversation took around half an hour in total. The interview was in a casual way, we felt free to ask and answer questions and she was open minded. Emma moved from Texas to Illinois in August 2015. Her intention of moving to Illinois was to get into Art Institute Chicago. She told me that â€Å"It is really hard to get into that institution†Read MoreThe Writing Process, By Anne Lamott, And Write Before Writing By Donald M. Murray1303 Words   |  6 Pagesexplains, Students who are not writing, or not writing well, can get a second chance by write before writing â€Å"prewriting† and what’s so important about it. Analyzing â€Å"Shitty First Draft† by Lamott, and â€Å"Write Before Writing† by Murray, I recognized a lot on what i am struggling on, and maybe Lamott’s version of writing will be a better fit for me because it will help me lay out all my ideas. Many students have a problem with procrastination, and don’t always get things done when it need to be doneRead MorePurpose - The Aim Of This Paper Is To Address The Following1268 Words   |  6 PagesPurpose - The aim of this paper is to address the following question: Should Venezuela unify the dual exchange rate mechanism in favour of a free-floating exchange rate regime? Findings – In my analysis, I argue that the negative economic impact of having a dual exchange rate regime cannot be neglected and that Venezuela should abandon the one-fixed-one-floating rate system. Originality/ value – Venezuela implemented the dual exchange rate system in March 2016; because of this, there is empiricalRead MoreThe Study of Beauty: Cosmetology Essay1590 Words   |  7 Pages Introduction According to 10 Weird and Wacky Beauty Facts by Andrea Lavinthal, in ancient Greece, the most sought-after hair color was blond. Not many Greeks were naturally blond, so light hair was probably perceived as beautiful because it was so exotic. Women would lighten their hair using plant extracts or arsenic. They also washed their locks with a mixture of ashes, olive oil, and water. She also explained how â€Å"it was a shame that extension weren’t available during the Heian periodRead MoreBusiness Research Paper1235 Words   |  5 Pages Date: September 27, 2012 Table of Contents Executive Summary 3 Introduction 4 Research Findings 4 Finding Number 1 4 Finding Number 2 5 Finding Number 3 5 Recommendations 5 Conclusion 6 References 7 Executive Summary Task instruction: Prepare a business report based on your research findings that includes: 3. Executive summary (suggested length of 1 page) that overviews the purpose of this report. The executive summary should be the last section you write after the

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Government Decision Making for Fiscal Policies- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theGovernment Decision Making for Fiscal Policies. Answer: Fig: Elasticity of demand for Sugary food stuffs A tax on sweets and sugary snacks can have a positive effect of changing the consumers behavior from unhealthy to healthy eating. If an assumption is made that the price of these food stuffs before the tax imposition is P* and that a quantity level of Q*, a price increase to a price with tax Pt causes the quantity level to fall to quantity with tax Qt. However, as it can be observed from the diagram above, inelasticity of demand for this food stuffs is making the quantity demanded to fall by a small margin after a big price rise. Thus, taxing this products does not result in a significant behavioral change. Tax alone cannot be effective and I can argue against it. However, a combination of this tax and subsidy could be effective since the money raised through the imposed tax will be sufficient to subsidize the affordability of fruits and vegetables and other food stuffs recommended for healthy eating. If the taxation is supplemented by the subsidy, then I would vote for it. The tax i mposition therefore has to be higher to impact the consumers behavior; a small tax imposition will result in no change owing to the issue of inelasticity. The simple idea put down by Keynes has been argued for by many economists and governments have embraced this idea. The simple idea is that increasing the government spending could indirectly stimulate the private investment. The process is as follows; the government spending goes up to investments that creates more jobs for the citizens. With the availability of many jobs, the economys income level expands stimulating an increase in demand. Since the supply level has not changed, the price level goes up stimulating the producers to supply more so as to enjoy better profits. At the bottom line, the production level in the economy is stimulated During a recession, the change in the fiscal position is that the government budget balance becomes a deficit due to the implementation of discretionary fiscal policies. The government has a crucial role of ensuring that they is a significant level of growth at any given time. During a recession, the fiscal policies employed include the raise in government spending and cutting of the taxes. Any of these two policies contributes to the deficit. Tax is the major source of revenue for the government and thus when its cut, revenue falls. Increasing government spending again causes the deficit because already many economies operates at a deficit and supplement the increase in spending from borrowing. Wasteful spending by the government is consuming much funds that could otherwise be used productively. This explains why the government need to borrow so as to facilitate its increased spending. It has been noted that increased government borrowing results in an increased interest rate which discourages real investment. Thus, if the government directed its spending only to important projects and eliminating the spending on wasteful projects, it would save more of its revenue and reduce its budget deficit. As a result, the interest rate would fall and the investors will be stimulated to invest more. The government will be in a good position to raise spending in the future is need arises. The creation of economic stimulus through monetary policy could be by increasing the money supply or reduction in the central banks interest rate. Money supply is increase through; cut in reserve ration requirement, open market operations and decreasing short term interest rate. Makin argument is that fiscal policy is not effective for an economy that borrows heavily to finance its spending as it creates risks of falling credit worthiness. For such an economy therefore, Makin noted that the most effective policy is that of monetary actions and he argued for absence of need for a fiscal stimulus is such an economy..

Sunday, April 12, 2020

7 Common Body Language Mistakes People Make During Interviews

7 Common Body Language Mistakes People Make During Interviews You may talk a big game, but you might be surprised to know that talking makes up a small part of human communication. Some people are great listeners, but by nature, we receive more information from our eyes than from our ears. When it comes to job interviews, even with the perfect outfit, amazing credentials, and a fantastic introduction, if your body language is poor, you’re damaging your chances of landing the job! Here are seven body language mistakes to avoid.1. SlouchingIt doesn’t matter how comfortable the chair is- sinking into it will  give a bad impression. Sit and stand upright, and hold your shoulders back. If you look too relaxed, your interviewer may get the impression that you aren’t taking the interview seriously, and in turn, won’t take the job seriously.2. Getting fidgetyFidgeting is a nervous habit for many of us. Interviews are very trying on your nerves, especially if you’re particularly excited about the prospective job. Ref rain from fidgeting- no jittery, nervous hands or bouncing legs. Keep yourself calm.3. Forgetting to make eye contactEye contact and trustworthiness go hand in hand. When establishing a connection with your interviewer, you should make eye contact. On the other hand, staring into someone’s eyes without taking a break can read as creepy and make your interviewer uncomfortable, so just make eye contact for a few seconds here and there while you’re speaking.4. Nodding excessivelyYou may want to seem agreeable, but constantly nodding while someone is speaking can actually give them the impression you’re merely waiting for them to finish talking because you have something to say. If your interviewer feels like you’re rushing them through, they’ll get the impression you don’t care about the current conversation. Listen attentively without moving around. Just focus on the information being relayed to you.5. Crossing your armsIf the chair youâ€℠¢re sitting in doesn’t have armrest, it can be difficult to figure out where to put your arms. Crossing them may translate as hostile, as you’re metaphorically closing yourself off from the situation. Fold your hands and place them in your lap, or better yet, carry a notepad and a pen so you can jot down important things. Give your hands something to do that isn’t distracting.6. Not showing  expressionWhen someone’s meeting you for the first time, they may not be familiar with your subtleties. A  quick wit and  clever jokes are usually appreciated in most social settings, but it’s important that the person you’re talking to knows how to interpret your humor. Your facial expressions need to match your desired intention- this means smiling, raising your eyebrows, or making other emotive gestures that match your  dialogue.7. Breaking the bubble of personal spaceThere are certain formalities that involve people being close, such as hands hakes, or even high fives, depending on the culture of the company you’re interviewing for. What’s important is that physical closeness is limited only to these occasions. Never lean over the desk or stand too close to your interviewer. You might think you’re coming across as friendly, but you could be making someone  uncomfortable.When you’re running through your example interview questions and preparing your answers, try delivering them in front of a mirror as you watch your body language. If you want to hit home with your delivery, you need to present yourself as the complete package.Kelly Smith is an experienced writer and tutor working at Career FAQs. She’s keen on new motivational tools and productivity hacks. She’s also interested in the new media.

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Bush or Kerry essays

Bush or Kerry essays There are less than 90 days until November 2nd; the race between Bush and Kerry for the White House is close and exhilarating. People all over United States are wondering who will win the 2004 election: Kerry or Bush? Even though both candidates made a plethora of speeches, and held campaign after campaign, only one man can win. That man should be John Kerry; He has an authoritative presence, he communicates a positive vision for our country, and he promotes keeping our environment safe for future generations. A president should always have an authoritative presence and look; many individuals have heard the saying you can either make or break a man, but an authoritative presence and look can either make or break a presidency. Kerry looks very presidential to many observers: he is tall, thin, an exceedingly serious. Thus, to some, he commands respect and appears dependable. Furthermore, Kerrys loud and deep speaking style suggests a level of seriousness that many want in the Oval Office. President Bush is, after all, the President of the United States, so it is hard to question his presence, but often the President (who is at least five inches shorter than Kerry!) has a problem measuring up to his opponent, especially when they appear side-by-side at the presidential debates. Communicating a positive and inspirational vision to the people at presidential debates is the gold standard that makes candidates into leaders in todays elections. Bush, on occasion, has risen to a level where he inspired people. His speeches after the September 11th crisis were excellent and touched many people, but lately he has fallen flat. His speeches at the recent Republican Convention were a failure, and they were greeted with yawns and disbelief. Furthermore, President Bush seemed obsessed with the war in Iraq; it would appear as if that was his most important job right now ...

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Kant's Metaphysics of Morals, the Importance of Duty Essay

Kant's Metaphysics of Morals, the Importance of Duty - Essay Example All of which were important aspects in the moral determination of the will that would contrue an act as moral or ethical. Kant’s normative ethics posits that the best way to act morally is to act from duty with the consideration of the highest good. That is, acting through the moral determination of the will. Kant’s acting through the moral determination of will meant that the motivation of one’s action must be pursued with the good without condition which is intrinsically good by itself. He formulated his deontological ethics in a categorical imperative of doing good for the sake of good regardless of its consequence. The three propositions of moral determination of the will are as follows; Universal Law formulation which is to act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law. This means that if one is to act good, that will should not be subjected to any condition or any physical constraints. Humanity or E nd in Itself formulation which posits to act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means, but always at the same time as an end. This meant the free will is a source of rational action. And that humanity, is not just a result of an action but also the motivation of such action and how the action is carried out. A logical free will should therefore be an end itself because an end is subjective that they needed to be pursued whereas, the rationale action is objective and therefore must be categorically pursued. Kingdom of Ends formulation is the integration of the first two laws that says all maxims as proceeding from our own [hypothetical] making of law ought to harmonize with a possible kingdom of ends. This meant an autonomous will is not subject to anything but it must bind itself to the first two laws to make it applicable to everybody that people by themselves are both a means and an end. In sum, Kingdom of Ends formulation meant that the end and the means must be harmonized to be good and this is applicable to all circumstances without exemption. Kant explained the etymology of the expression of his deontological ethics. According to Kant, imperatives imply what they just meant which are commands such as â€Å"wake up early†. Often they are hypothetical imperative because they only serve a specific objective or purpose such as â€Å"wake up early so you will not be later for work†. This imperative or command becomes categorical when it is applied universally and that the actions and decisions of individuals are to be judged solely by their motivations and that the consequences do not matter morally (as in the case of hypothetical imperative) neither the intended consequences nor the actual consequences matter morally; only the principle or rule we follow if we do the action matters morally. In simpler terms, this meant doing what is good regardless of consequ ence and that by doing is an end by itself. Thus, actions themselves become an end and this action should be a rational result in the exercise of freewill. In the example stated, categorical imperative dictates to â€Å"wake up† early because it is good to wake up early even without considering one’s need not to be late for work. Consistent to this, Kant’s categorical imperative states that every person has the duty to use and exercise his goodness/humanity as a means to an end. The application of Kant’s second law of categorical imper

Friday, February 7, 2020

Ethics, Virtue and Moral Agency Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ethics, Virtue and Moral Agency - Assignment Example Virtues are the good behavior and morals aimed at promoting good and peaceful coexistence between people and doing good both to oneself and others (David, 77). I prefer that ethics is a real requirement for living in life since without it, the human actions are random and useless. There would be no way to choose between a good goal and a wrong one if there will be none to choose upon. I personally view myself as believing in having virtues to be very important in life. This is because moral goodness is important for peaceful coexistence amongst people in the society. An example is the importance of the virtue of chastity especially among women in my community (David, 34). This will create peace in the community. Another example is the importance of the virtue of patience in society. Moral agency is also important to me very much. It is good to act properly in accordance to the community’s notion. Since everyone has the freedom of choosing what to do, I am always for the choice of doing the right just to avoid problems in

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

The abolitionist Essay Example for Free

The abolitionist Essay â€Å"My free life began on the third of September, 1838. On the morning of the 4th of that month, after an anxious and most perilous but safe journey, I found myself in the big city of New York, a free man, one more added to the mighty throng which, like the confused waves of the troubled sea, surged to and fro between the lofty walls of Broadway. † (Douglass, 1962) Frederick Douglass, indeed, was well prepared to enter the abolitionist crusade in August 1841 as a lecturer for the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. Concerned with any publicity that could expose him to discovery and arrest by his master, In August 1841, after delivering his first speeches before a predominantly white abolitionist audience at Nantuckets Atheneum Hall, Douglass was invited to become a lecturer for the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. Douglass at first declined the invitation, but John A. Collins, general agent of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, refused to take no for an answer, and Douglass reluctantly accepted his request. â€Å"His preparation began during his twenty-year enslavement, and by the time he escaped from slavery in 1838, he had gained valuable experiences that contributed to his understanding of rhetoric and his identity as an orator. † (Lampe, 1998, pg 1) Frederick Douglass It is no surprise, then, that people began to question whether Douglass had ever been a slave. How, they wondered, could anyone who had been a slave and deprived of a formal education speak so eloquently and conduct himself with so much dignity and grace on the platform? During all these activities Douglass demonstrated his deep and abiding  commitment to the antislavery movement. He weathered unfriendly audi ¬ences, health problems, inclement weather, and assaults on the abolition ¬ist cause. The conventional view of Douglass at this stage of his career is that he confined his remarks to a simple narrative of his slave experiences, that he was very much under the wing of Garrison and the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, and that he adhered strictly to Garrisonian doctrine. Everywhere he went; he attracted large and enthusiastic audiences and infused excitement into the crusade against slavery. Douglass stated he was always ready to speak on slavery,  and added, in reply to some one who desired to have his name and that of the preceding speaker announced, and that he was afraid we cared too much to know who it is that speaks, instead of weighing well what was said. Douglass traveled extensively throughout the Bay State delivering his antislavery message. His rhetorical activities included impressive speaking performances at county, state, regional, and national antislavery meetings, as well as a solo lecture tour of Massachusetts. In addition, he played a crucial role in a lecture tour of Cape Cod, in which he traveled with William Lloyd Garrison, Henry C. Wright, and George Bradburn. In all of these activities, Douglass strengthened his standing as a powerful voice in the struggle for immediate abolition. A number of historians, recognizing the insufficiency and shortcomings of the white missionary effort, have emphasized instead the role of black preachers in spreading Christianity. There is, of course, considerable truth in one Southern clergymans observation that the colored people will, in spite of all our efforts, have more confidence in the views of leading colored members. At the same time, however, evidence suggests that black preachers intent on spreading the gospel to the unconverted faced considerable barriers, as Fanny Kemble witnessed in Georgia in 1839: There were a short time ago two free black preachers in this neighborhood, but they have lately been ejected from the place. I could not clearly learn, but one may possibly imagine, upon what grounds. (Rael, 1997) Frederick Douglass, who spoke after Garnet at the Convention, denounced the idea of a violent rebellion. Douglass, an eloquent ex-slave from Maryland, was the leading African American spokesperson of the time. Although he had been Garrisons protege and friend, they eventually had a public and dramatic falling out over differing interpretations of the Constitution. Whereas Garrison regarded the Constitution as a pro-slavery document, even going so far as to publicly burn it, Douglass took the wording of the Constitution to imply federal authority to either restrict or destroy slavery. (PBS Africans). 1843 was to be the year of the Hundred Conventions—a hundred antislavery meetings planned by the American Anti slavery Society. The goal of a hundred was never actually reached, but Douglass himself spoke at nearly that many meetings in 1843 as he traveled across New England, upstate New York, Ohio and Indiana, and back through Pennsylvania, gaining an increasingly strong and independent voice. While preaching against slavery as it existed in the South, he made constant references to what he was facing now in the North—a North that would not accord him equality. He believed fervently that the ending of slavery would mean the beginning of full manhood for his brothers and himself. With its end, they and he would be paid attention to, would be respected. Somehow, it was slavery that had bred the poison of racism. In the company of devoted proponents of universal reform, he did not waver in his belief that slavery was the one overriding evil that had to be gotten rid of before any other goals, however desirable, should be sought.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

The History of Computing :: Free Essay Writer

The History of Computing The Computer - Man’s Greatest Achievment Computers are indeed approaching the status of the core operator of every electronic device or utility in the world today. Their â€Å"logic† and process can produce results millions of times faster than that of the human brain. They are at the helm of everything from an old walk man to the systems that keep the Earth’s continents in constant communications. They’ll likely soon be the basis of communications between other civilizations in outer space. When the computer was first introduced, it was simply a device of convenience for use of the masses or huge corporations and universities. The incredible machines have now grown so much since their introduction, that the World’s economy desperately depends on them to function. But computers have not always been so royal. The first machine to be classified as a computer used no circuitry of any kind, but was consistent entirely of gears and rods that made simple calculations in mathematics. As compute rs progressed in complexity and became more modern, society utilized them in nearly every way possible. They now are incorporated into every aspect of human life, especially for recreation and general home usage. It remains second in complexity only to that of the human brain. And yet it they still progress towards perfection. The idea of what is now modern computing originates (more or less) in the late 1700’s with the birth of computing’s conceptual father, Charles Babbage. He was born in London on December 26, 1791, the day after Christmas. He excelled in the area of mathematics (algebra for the most part), acting as his own instructor. He found himself to have been far in intellectual advance of his peers and â€Å"mentors†. Upon attending Trinity College, Cambridge in 1811, he still remained at incredible superiority to his tutors. After founding several societies (i.e. Analytical Society, Astronomical Society or Royal Astronomical Society), he became interested in mathematical calculation machines. This ultimately became his life interest. He pursued the invention of a machine that could compile mathematical tables. This gave way to the design of the â€Å"Difference Engine†. It performed somewhat complex mathematical tasks using gears and belts, not quite the hard ware integrated in todays machines. He eventually conceived the design of an â€Å"Analytical Engine† that would be able to make virtually any calculation (at least those considered in the time period) given the proper commands and instructions.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Capital One Case Study Essay

In consumer lending, every product is evolving in the same direction as credit cards-toward large, national-scale consolidators replacing local, face-to-face lending. That evolution has happened in credit cards. It’s well under way in auto finance, mortgages, and home equity. Its coming more slowly in installment lending. So consumer lending, a major part of the asset side of banking, is all flowing toward national consolidators like Capital One. -RICHARD D. FAIRBANK, CEO AND CHAIRMAN, CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION’ United Kingdom, the Hfs Group, to strengthen its Global Financial services (GFS) subsidiary in the British market. As of April 2005, it possessed sufficient liquidity ($21 billion) and capital ($9.2 billion)4 to enable its famous brand to expand into new markets and seize the right opportunities for profitable growth. Although the company’s acquisition of Hibernia in March 2005 provided it an opportunity to enter the fast-developing Texas markets of Houston and Dallas, it might face stiff competition from other large credit companies, such as Citigroup and J.P. Morgan. Capital One Financial Corporation is a diversified bank holding company, with a 2005 market value of $18.92 billion. It provides a gamut of financial services through its main subsidiaries-Capital One Bank, Capital One FS.B. (which offers consumer and commercial lending and consumer deposit products), and Capital One Auto Finance Inc (COAF). From a small local bankcard issuer in 1995, the company has transformed itself into one of the largest financial institutions in the United States by continually  introducing a steady stream of products. It features one of the most recognized brands in the industry, which it leverages along with its strategies of direct marketing, risk analysis, and information technology to grow and diversify into other businesses. Ranked 206th in the Fortune 500 list in 2005,2 the company has been gradually transforming itself from a credit card company to an institution that provides banking and other financial services to consumers. By January 2005, it was the 31st largest deposit institution in the United States with $25.6 billion3 in interest-bearing deposits. Capital One has been on the path of diversification from the late 1990s and has made three acquisitions between 2004 and 2005: Onyx Acceptance Corporation, eSmartloan, and Hibernia National Bank. It has also acquired a home equity brokerage company in the  Capital One is the fifth largest credit card provider in the United States5 and one of the largest issuers of MasterCard and Visa credit cards. It was founded as a wholly owned subsidiary of Virginia-based Signet Bank when Richard D. Fairbank, CEO and chairman of Capital One, was invited by the bank to head its bankcard division. It began its operations in 1953, the same year MasterCard International was formed. Fairbank and the former vice chairman of Capital One, Nigel Morris, realized that traditional banks offered loans without focusing on the customers-like analyzing their risk characteristics. They decided that by using technology and data mining techniques in the decision- making process of providing credit, the bank could charge the appropriate interest rates more accurately and earn greater profits. In 1994, Capital One was spun off from Signet as a public credit card company and established itself in McLean, Virginia. It had an initial public offering of 7,125,000 shares of common stock in the United States and Canada, at a price of $16 per share,6 which was managed by J.P. Morgan Securities Ine., Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Barney Ine. It is a part of the S&P 500 index, and also trades on the New York Stock Exchange with the symbol COF ~ This case was written by Susmita Nandi, under the direction of Sumit Kumar Chaudhuri, ICFAI Business School Case Development Centre. It is intended to be :;: used as the basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate  either effective or ineffective handling of a management situation. The case was compiled from 25 published sources.  © 2005, ICFAI Business School Case Development Centre. No part of this publication may be copied, stored, transmitted, reproduced, or  © distributed in any form or medium whatsoever without the permission of the copyright owner. Between 1994 and 2004, the company grew at an annual compound rate of 29 percent/ both in terms of its EPS and the number of customers. In 2004, its earnings were $1.5 billion, and the EPS was at $6.21.8 At the end of 2004, the company and its subsidiaries held 48.6 million accounts and $79.9 billion9 in managed loans outstanding, which grew by 12 percent ($8.6 billion) over the previous year (see Exhibit 1). It had 17,760 employees in March 2005. The bank offers 7,00010variations of its MasterCard and Visa cards, each one is customized to appeal to different customer preferences and needs by combining product features such as different backgrounds and colors, along with varied annual percentage rates, credit limits, fees, and rewards programs. Capital One’s pricing strategy is based on the risk level of its customers. It offers platinum and gold cards to its preferred customers with excellent credit history and a wide range of secured and unsecured cards to customers with limited or poor credit history. The company also provides a range of consumer products like auto finanCing, mortgage services, credit insurance, and home-equity loans. Customizations of credit cards at Capital One are made with the support of its Information-Based Strategy (IBS), which uses sophisticated data-mining techniques to match its credit cards (its combination of interest rates, fees, rewards, and other conditions) with targeted customers based on their credit scores, credit uses, and other parameters. IBS is the fusion of one of the world’s largest databases, information systems, a well-trained team of analysts and statisticians, and advanced scoring models. The company’s decision-making process is made efficient by bringing together marketing, credit, risk, and information technology. It selects its most profitable customers and the appropriate rate by using the rigorous testing of econometric and time series models. The credit ratings of customers is based on the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) scores, which are used to predict payment risk by looking at several variables, including credit history. The  IBS system uses FICO scores to divide its customers into three groups of super-prime (with excellent credit history), prime (average credit history), and sub-prime (with poor or very little credit history). Through the use of IBS, the company has been able to locate a group of students who were not included in the mailing lists of other credit card companies because these students, mostly unemployed and little or no credit histories, were considered high risk. Capital One’s strategy of sending credit card applications, which were tailored to the needs of these students, proved effective, as 70 percent of the applications were filled and mailed back, thus creating a new market for the company. IBS has also helped Capital One avoid customers who do not pay interest charges on loans. The charge-off rate (for bad debt) of Capital One is the industry’s lowest, and for 2004 was at 4.37 percent, compared to 5.32 percent in the previous year. Capital One’s GFS segment offers a portfolio of diverse products to both domestic and international consumers. In the domestic market, the GFS segment includes installment lending, health care finance, mortgage lending services, and small business lending services. GFS has been on a growth curve and in 2004, it accounted for 27 percent of Capital One’s total managed loans, which are comprised of reported loans and off-balance sheet securitized loans. It also accounts for 14 percent of its earnings. Its international portfolio primarily consists of credit card business in the United Kingdom and Canada, valued at $8.2 billion and $2.4 billion,12 respectively. Capital One is the United Kingdom’s seventh largest credit card issuer, and among the top ten of the same in Canada. In January 2005, the company completed the formalities to acquire a British equity brokerage firm called Hfs Group to strengthen its position in the United Kingdom. Although Capital One had hold ings in France and South Africa, it exited these markets due to lack of growth opportunities. Capital One generated strong earnings and loan growth again in 2004, as it has each year since its initial public offering ten years ago. The company is well positioned for continued success in 2005 in both our Us. credit card and our growing and profitable diversification businesses. -RICHARD D. FAIRBANK, CHAIRMAN CAPITAL AND CEO, CORPORATION† ONE FINANCIAL Capital One grew at 30 percent14 (see Exhibit 2, on page 68) between 1994 and 2004 by issuing credit cards at attractive interest rates. Most of its business is conducted via direct mail (junk-mail solicitations), although it also markets its products through television and Internet (http://www .capitalone.com). It expanded its credit card operations in Canada, Europe, and South Africa in the late 1990s. At the same time, the company also made strategic moves toward diversifying its portfolio by entering into financing of automobiles and other motor vehicles, mortgage and home equity loans, insurance, and other consumer lending products. Although 60 percent of its total managed loans is in its credit cards business (see Exhibit 3, on page 68), the company is gradually increasing its operations in other business segments. In 1998, Capital One bought Amerifee, a company that provided financing for elective surgeries such as orthodontic, vision, and cosmetic procedures. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital One in May 2001. Amerifee is a market leader known for introducing Orthodontists Fee and Dental Fee plans in 1993 and 1998, respectively. These fee plans are the largest patient payment plans in   (dollars in millions, except per-share data) Reproductive Endocrinologists and infertility clinics. IS The subsidiary formally became Capital One Healthcare Finance in April 2005. Capital One soon realized that the auto financing market is double that of the credit  card market, and therefore it has a strong growth potential in that segment. This market is highly fragmented and no company holds more than 20 percent16 of the market share. It provided an opportunity to Capital One Auto Finance Ine. (COAF) to introduce innovative offers and increase its market share. COAF added $163.8 millionl? to the company’s earnings in 2004, and has continued to be on a high growth curve. To strengthen its market position in the automobile finance segment, the company acquired ONYXAcceptance Corporation (Onyx) for $191 millionl8 (in an all cash transaction) on January 11, 2005. It also acquired InsLogic, an insurance brokerage firm, from Onyx’s management team. The purchase strengthened the Auto Finance subsidiary of Capital One and enhanced its dealer relationships, coastto-coast market penetration in the United States, and its product line among the prime borrowers. Onyx is based in Foothills, California, and provides automobile loans to certain independent and franchise dealerships all over the United States. Onyx claims to have purchased and securitized $10 billionl9 in auto loans since its inception in 1993, and will add 12,000 new dealerships to Capital One’s list. According to David R. Lawson, Capital One’s executive vice president, and president of COAF, â€Å"This transaction combines two strong franchises with complementary strengths. Onyx’s significant and long-standing presence with California dealerships coupled with its strong prime product offering fills out both COAF’s product line and geographic footprint. Together, we expect to realize significant revenue and cost synergies:’20 This acquisition may make COAF the second largest auto lender in the United States. COAF has announced that it has raised its car loan limit to $100,00021 (previously $75,000) for direct-toconsumer vehicle loans that have originated from its Web   site (http://capitaloneautofinance.com) in February 2005. This move was made in response to the growing demand for luxury cars such as Corvette by Chevrolet, so that the company can get more business from this customer segment. This extension is limited to only those with excellent credit histories (super-prime customers). The vice president of COAF, Brian Reed, said, â€Å"Car buyers have more choices than ever today at the higher end of the  car spectrum, so weà ¢â‚¬â„¢ve adjusted our limit to offer consumers greater flexibilit/’22 The competitive advantage of COAF is that the loan process takes place on the Internet and requires no legacy fees. Also, its IBS system allows it to charge varying interest rates depending on the customer’s risk levels. In February 2005, Capital One purchased eSmartloans .com for $155 million,23 one of the largest online providers of home equity loans mortgages in the United States. Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, the company offers a variety of products that are marketed and delivered directly to homeowners. The purchase is meant to broaden Capital One’s offering of consumer loans and deepen its position in the growing US. home equity market. Larry Klane, Capital One’s executive vice president of Global Financial Services, said, â€Å"eSmartloan has succeeded in building a scalable technology platform, a highly skilled sales team, and an outstanding reputation for customer service and speed to close. By combining these strengths with Capital One’s powerful national brand, access to 47 million accounts, and expertise in direct marketing, we will enhance the growth of our home equity lending business:’24 In early March 2005, Capital One announced its decision to purchase Hibernia National Bank. Hibernia is the largest bank in Louisiana,2s with 316 branches in Louisiana and Texas, and $17.4 billion26 in deposits. It provides a wide assortment of financial products and services through its banking and non-banking subsidiaries that ranges from deposit products, small business, commercial, mortgage, private and international banking, to trust and investment management, brokerage, investment banking, and insurance. Capital One paid a 24 percent premium over Hibernia’s closing stock price of $26.57 as on March 4, or $33 per share,27and a total of$5.3 billion for the purchase. The merger is expected to cost $175 million in restructuring expenses and result in near-term synergies of$135 million.28 According to Fairbank, â€Å"This acquisition is a natural extension of the diversification strategy we have been pursuing for some time. The transaction brings together two financial companies with complementary strengths and represents a compelling long-term value proposition for shareholders of both companies. Hibernia’s leading market share in Louisiana and its promising Texas branch expansion create not only a solid growth platform as we continue to expand, but also an additional source oflower cost funding. Additionally, we believe our national brand, 48 million accounts, broad product offerings, asset generation capabilities, and market expertise will drive profitable growth in branch banking:’ 29 Capital One wanted to purchase a commercial bank with a strong management team and a large local market share. Hibernia has both these qualities as well as the potential to expand extensively into Texas markets. Currently it has only 109 branches in Texas, but the cities of Dallas and Houston are number 2 and 3 in terms of fastest growing markets in the metro cities, a seemingly untapped potential for capturing market share in that region.30 The main advantage of purchasing Hibernia is that Capital One gains access to a lower cost of funding at 1.38 percent against a rate of 4.24 percent.3l One third of Capital One’s funding is obtained from the deposits in its fully owned Internet bank at 4 percent, which is higher than that paid by any of its rivals. The rest of it comes from securitization, which is risky as well as costlier than its other avenues of sourcing funds. It can increase ratio of funding from deposits from the previous 30 percent to 40 percent,32 to support its lending operations in the areas of credit cards, auto finance and mortgages. Acquiring Hibernia is also expected to increase its profit margins due to decreased interest expenses and bring stability to its businesses of consumer lending and other financial products. It now has the ability to use Hibernia’s brick -and- mortar branches as a launching pad to market its range of offerings in combination with its IBS techniques. The deal also provides Capital One with the opportunity to enter the debit -card market and also introduce its own home equity credit line. Early in the twenty-first century, the US. credit card industry witnessed a high level of competition and was also going through a phase of consolidation. For example, J.P. Morgan merged with Chase in 2000, and the combined group merged with Bank One in July 2004 to form the second largest US. bank holding company with a combined asset base of $1 trillion33 and 19.1 percent of the total credit card market share. The US. consumer debt amount of $2.1 trillion (Federal Reserve Bank data) in January 2005 was mostly due to the top ten credit card companies, which held 85 percent of the market share.34 Market share of Capital One in the credit card segment  fell from 7.2 percent in 200Ys to 6.8 percent (see Exhibit 4) in 2004. Capital One was left with no innovative ideas such as being the first bank to offer automatic balance transfers, which could grab business from other banks. The rise in personal bankruptcies and the economic recession between 2001 and 2004, coupled with the saturation of the credit card market diminished growth opportunities for Capital One in that market. This  necessitated its diversification into other consumer lending operations through different distribution channels such as Hibernia. Capital One has been bombarding the Internet, radio, and television with its advertisement, â€Å"What’s in your wallet?† with one of the versions featuring the famous Hollywood comedian David Spade (Appendix 1). It spent $285 million on advertisements, a total marketing  expense of $1.3 billion36 in 2004 and $5.4 million in January 2005,37 which was more than competitors such as American Express. In a consumer survey conducted by USA Today’s weekly poll, 30 percent of the people â€Å"disliked† the advertisement, while 12 percent liked it â€Å"a lot;’ suggesting that it did not receive the popularity it wanted. It was opined that the advertisement expense has been eating into Capital One’s profits. Another potential hurdle for Capital One is its potentially risky source of funding from securitization. It pools together the loans it originates and invests pieces from that collection in different securities. Because the investment is dependent on the stock market price fluctuations, this source of funding involves a great deal of uncertainty and risks of monetary loss. It has also amassed a large portfolio of sub-prime customers as it relies on its IBS system to guide it toward greater profit margins (related to greater risk), without incurring heavy losses. Due to federal regulations and a great many of its customers defaulting on their loans, Capital One had to shift away from subprime to a greater proportion of prime and super-prime customers. This change led to smaller margins as the company offered an introductory rate of 9.9 percent to its super-prime customers vis-a-vis a rate of25.9 percent3s charged to sub-prime customers who are associated with   high probability of delinquency. In July 2002, the company disclosed its decision to tighten controls over its loan disbursements (mainly to sub-prime lenders) to meet the banking regulators’ demands, leading to a 40 percent decline39 in its shares in one day (Appendix 2). Management of Hibernia’s branch banking and its non-consumer lending operations, after the merger is complete, might pose a challenge for Capital One because it lacks experience in those fields. The non-consumer lending portfolio consists of commercial and industrial loans (C&I) and commercial real-estate (CRE) loans. Hibernia’s combined portfolio of C&I and CRE is worth $4 billion,40 and its small business portfolio is valued at $3.2 billion. The challenge will be to efficiently integrate Hibernia into its system and strategy, which includes incorporation of its retail branch banking, and review of its business and asset integration plans. For the short term, it might need to rely on Hibernia’s management team in making any strategic decisions. Part of the strategic long-term vision, as announced by the company is to expand  further into the state of Texas, especially in Dallas and Houston, and establish  new branches there. In expanding in that direction, Capital One is likely to face stiff competition from several major players in the credit card and banking industry such as JP Morgan, Citigroup, Bank of America, and American Express. It may be difficult for Capital One to steal any business away from these giants, even with its innovative ideas and products, because the bigger players have strong presence in that region. Analyst and credit rating agencies like Fitch have warned that Capital One’s growth depends on its ability to aggreSSively defend and maintain market positions in the states of Louisiana and Texas. Fairbanks said, â€Å"We’re well positioned to continue our profitable growth. Financially, we’ve never been stronger. Our flagship credit card business is thriving. We’re successfully taking IBS, the strategy that made Capital One a winner in credit cards and auto finance, to new businesses. And, we have a powerful brand and huge customer base to fuel our growth and diversification. Our people have pulled together to make Capital One the strong, diversified company it is today. And I am confident that they will sustain our momentum as we enter our second decade as a public company: M. McNamee, 2005, Capital One’s concrete step, http://www .businessweek.com, March 11. http://wwwfortune.com. http://wwwcapitalone.com. Ibid. N. Slaughter, 2005, Capital One shells out http://wwwfoolcom, March 7 1994, Capital One financial corporation completes initial public offering, http://wwwbusinesswire.com. http://wwwfortune.com. Ibid. 2005, Capital One to acquire Hibernia Corporation for $5.3 billion in stock and cash, http://biz.yahoo.com, March 6. M. McNamee, 1999, Capital One: Isn’t there more to life than plastic?† http://wwwbusinessweek.com. http://wwwcapitalone.com. Ibid. http://wwwcapitalone.com. 2005, A capital idea, http://wwweconomist.eom, http://wwwcapitalonehealthcarefinance.com. Ibid. http://wwwcapitalone.com. Ibid. http://wwwonyxacceptance.com. http://wwwcapitalone.com. 2005, Capital One announces new online auto loan limit of $100,000, http://wwwpwrebdireCl.com. February 25. Ibid. March 10. November 22. November 15. http://wwwmccollpartners.com . http://wwwcapitalone.com. Louisiana is one of the southern-most located between Texas and Mississippi. A capital idea, op. cil. states in the U.S. and is 2005, Capital One buying Hibernia for $5.3B, http://wwwcnnmoney. com, March 7 http://wwwCapitalone.com. Capital One to acquire Hibernia Corporation for $5.3 billion in stock and cash, op. cil. Capital One’s concrete step, op. cil. A capital idea, op. cil. Ibid. 1 Locke, 2005, Bank One, JPMorgan merger ups the ante in Colorado banking game, http://wwwbizjournals.com. A capital idea, op. cil. March 25 K. Maguire, 2005, Capital One rolls with the punches, http://news.yahoo.com, March 21 http://wwwcapitalone.com. M. McCarthy, 2005, Capital One’s ‘What’s in your wallet?’ ads filling airwaves, http://wwwusatoday.com. March 13. S. Maranjian, 2005, How to owe $40,000 by doing nothing, http://wwwfoolcom, February 11. R. Barker, 2003, Who’s minding the store at Capital One? http://wwwbusinessweek.com. March 24. 2005, Fitch places Capital One on rating watch positive; Hibernia on watch negative, http://wwwbloomberg.com. March 7 http://wwwcapitalone.com.